Austrian sailors have made their mark in Olympic sailing in recent years, winning medals in the Tornado, windsurfer and Laser classes but Norbert Sedlacek set a new ocean racing record for landlocked nation when he became the first Austrian to complete a solo non stop round the world passage when he finished the epic sixth edition of the Vendée Globe in 11th place.

Sedlacek's sheer pleasure this afternoon is doubled by the fact that this is his second attempt at the race. He had to retire in 2004 after just less than a month of racing, sailing back into Cape Town bitterly disappointed after suffering a mechanical failure with his canting keel system on his aluminium hulled boat which was built in 1996.

Vendée Globe 2008-2009:
 1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                finished after  84 days  3 hours, 9 mn.  8 sec
 2. Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              finished after  89 days  9 hours 39 mn. 35 sec
 3. Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                finished after  95 days  3 hours 19 mn. 36 sec 
 4. Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  finished after  95 days  4 hours 39 mn.  1 sec 
 5. Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   finished after  98 days 20 hours 29 mn. 55 sec
 6. Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 finished after  99 days  1 hour  10 mn. 57 sec 
 7. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        finished after 105 days  2 hours 33 mn. 50 sec
 8. Steve White       (Toe in the Water)      finished after 109 days  0 hours 36 mn. 55 sec
 9. Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    finished after 121 days  0 hours 41 mn. 19 sec
10. Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) finished after 125 days  2 hours 32 mn. 24 sec 
11. Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  finished after 126 days  5 hours 31 mn. 56 sec
RDG. Vincent Riou*    (PRB) 
30 boats started

* Three competitors "shared" third place. Samantha Davies (Roxy) was the third to cross the finish line, 
Marc Guillemot (Safran) took third place from her on the podium because of his redress with the extremely 
narrow advantage of 1hour 20 min, and Vincent Riou (PRB) was granted joint third place by the jury as redress
in saving a competitor and being dismasted.

All rankings

March 14. Saturday Video: Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) arrives at Les Sables d'Olonne [3 minute, 57 seconds en française]

Saturday Video: Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) arrives at Les Sables d'Olonne [5 minutes, 45 seconds en française]

March 13. Raphaël Dinelli and Norbert Sedlacek should complete their Vendée Globe solo round the world races this weekend, to bring to an end this record sixth edition of the famous pinnacle event in solo ocean racing.

Dinelli has been making good speed again during Friday afternoon, over eight knots with less than 160 miles to go to. He should finish during mid afternoon and can get into the legendary channel to return to his home port at around 1600hrs local time where he is assured of a huge welcome. Having completed his race using clean energy, using the a wind generator solar panels to power his Fondation Ocean Vital, and becoming the only skipper to complete both this and the last edition of the race. He should finish in 10th place.

15:00 HRS GMT. Rankings
 1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                finished after  84 days  3 hours, 9 minutes
 2. Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              finished after  89 days  9 hours 39 minutes
 3. Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                finished after  95 days  3 hours 19 mn. 36 sec 
 4. Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  finished after  95 days  4 hours 39 minutes 
 5. Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   finished after  98 days 20 hours 29 mn. 55 sec
 6. Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 finished after  99 days  1 hour  10 mn. 57 sec 
 7. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        finished after 105 days  2 hours 33 mn. 50 sec
 8. Steve White       (Toe in the Water)      finished after 109 days  0 hours 36 mn. 55 sec
 9. Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    finished after 121 days  0 hours 41 mn. 19 sec.
Still racing:
10. Raphaël Dinelli  (Fondation Océan Vital)  at 116.9 miles to finish
11. Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport - Kapsch)   at 379.1 miles to finish
RDG. Vincent Riou*     (PRB) 30 boats started

March 10. Tuesday Video: Rich Wilson arrives at Les Sables d'Olonne

Crossing the finish line off Les Sables d'Olonne at 12h43min19sec GMT, Rich Wilson completed the 28 590.2, miles Vendée Globe solo non stop round the world race in ninth place, completing a highly creditable result which is testament to his excellent seamanship skills, deep determination, careful planning and prudent execution, staying the distance to finish this incredible edition of the race which has claimed the highest attrition rate yet.

While nineteen of the 30 skippers who started from the Vendée start line on November 9th had to retire from the race, the most gruelling challenge in solo ocean racing, Wilson, the race's senior skipper at 58 years old, has stuck rigidly to his watchwords of safety and conservatism, showing huge determination to complete the course as the pinnacle of a sailing career which already included three ocean passage records.

Sailing Great American III, which was built in 1999 to a design by Bernard Nivelt for Thierry Dubois, Wilson, of Marblehead, MA, becomes only the second American ever to finish the Vendée Globe after Bruce Schwab finished ninth from 20 starters in the 2004-5 race on his Ocean Planet.

Wilson safely completed his boat's third circumnavigation after Dubois sailed her in the 2000-1 Vendée Globe and then the 2002 Around Alone.

March 9. Rich Wilson, aboard the Great American III, is expected tomorrow at 13h00 French Time (12h00 GMT - 0500h CDT). He will go up the canal after crossing the finish line. He'll arrive in 9th position of this edition of the Vendée Globe, also being the lone American of this race and only the 2nd to complete the Vendée Globe.

March 6. Rich Wilson's last weekend at sea on his Vendée Globe looks set to be quick and relatively productive as he finally rides favourable winds back towards the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne which he should reach on Monday. Downwind conditions of 20-25 conditions will see the American skipper gybing his way down the final miles of the track making good speed to become only the second American ever to complete the Vendée Globe. Wilson, 829 miles from the finish, has been making a VMG averaging just over eight knots and was 529 miles NWW of Cape Finisterre this afternoon making a course south of east.

The 58 year old holds three university and college degrees and previously set three sailing world records. His mathematics degree and his MBA from Harvard as well as an MIT science degree are complemented in the sailing world by setting speed records on routes from San Francisco to Boston, from New York to Melbourne and from Hong Kong to New York.

He served as Defence Analyst in Washington, a mathematics teacher in Boston, a desalination consultant in Saudi Arabia, is a successful corporate investor and a former writer for the Democrat party, and throughout his 116 days racing has constantly updated the sitesalive web site which he founded, which expert information and views from a collection of experts and presents it in an engaging and interesting fashion for young people.

Raphael Dinelli, now 300 miles NW of the Azores, has overcome his broken rib to make a successful repair to his boom on Fondation Océan Vital. After preparing the pieces of his boom, he placed them inside his boat to take advantage of the temperature of around 25176 to get them as dry and warm as possible. By yesterday everything was ready and the repair seems to have gone well, before he had to get the boom back on deck and re-set on the rig, not an easy job with his broken rib. With his injury the Sablais skipper has reported that has been unable to get much sleep, as it is painful for him to lie down.

And while the two skippers ahead of him have had their down moments in recent weeks, Austrian Norbert Sedlacek is happy with his lot as he contemplates his final week to ten days at sea on his trusty Nauticsport-Kapsch. He was suffering a bit of a headache today, either the after effects of another 'sportif' day yesterday - perhaps a little dehydrated - or alternatively he believed the bone jarring, slamming in the choppy, disorganized seas had shaken contributed to his sore head. His other slight concerns had been his engine mountings which, by the sounds of his descriptions today, had shaken loose. He had hammered in some wooden shims which seemed to have wedged the vital piece of engineering back into place, while he also said that taking a lot of water over the deck had seem some constant ingress through the deck aperture to his keel head, which has not had a cover for some weeks now. But, 560 miles SW of the Azores, Sedlacek is skirting the high and was starting to enjoy more settled, lighter winds, sailing under his double reefed main and G2 genoa.

Still racing:
 9. Rich Wilson      (Great American III)    at  822  miles to finish
10. Raphaël Dinelli  (Fondation Océan Vital) at 1450 miles to finish
11. Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 1814 miles to finish
30 boats started.

Finally triumphing after a frustrating duel with the prolonged easterly headwinds in the Bay of Biscay, British solo skipper Steve White sailed his Open 60 Toe in the Water across the finish line at Les Sables d'Olonne's South Nouch mark this afternoon at 12 H 38 MN 55 SEC GMT to take a commendable eighth place in the Vendée Globe solo round the world race.

White averaged 10.78 knots on the water covering 28197 miles. He sailed the 24,840 theoretical miles at an average speed of 9.49 knots.

Tired but triumphant, 109 days 0 hours, 36 minutes and 55 seconds after leaving Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday November 9th, White was greeted by his wife Kim, and his three sons Jason, 19, Isaac 9, and Euan 6. He is the fourth British skipper to complete the race. Of the 30 skippers who started from the Vendée town over three and a half months ago, 19 had to abandon.

February 25. Steve White "Crikey! Am I nearly there, yet"? He is due in to Les Sables d'Olonne on Thursday morning and after a battle with the Bay of Biscay's contrary easterly winds he is more than ready to complete his remarkable race and collect eighth place, outlasting many fancied, more famous skippers. Eighth is beyond the wildest dreams of the grounded, unpretentious skipper from Dorchester in Dorset, England.

His race has drawn widespread praise from fellow skippers and his regular, often humorous communications from the engine have made him one of the most popular characters in this race.

As it did for the seven skippers who finished ahead of him in this remarkable Vendée Globe, the champagne will flow like water when British skipper Steve White crosses the finish line on Thursday morning to having scaled the highest peak in solo ocean racing only 12 years after he first took up sailing, but White, a father of four, will celebrate seriously with a few bottles of Theakston's Old Peculier and a home cooked vegetable stew. brewed to a traditional recipe in Masham, North Yorkshire since 1890, the traditional English ale is much more in keeping with White's simple tastes and down to earth outlook than champagne.

Unendingly self-deprecating, he may give the impression of being slightly prone to adversity and the odd misadventure but they mask his talent as a solo skipper, his seamanship, planning and sheer dogged hard work. He is determined to be back for the 2012 Vendée Globe and develop continuously until then.

His success is not just a triumph over fiscal adversity, sailing so close to the wind financially that when he arrived in October in Les Sables d'Olonne three weeks before the start not only did he not have the money to race, but he was on the verge of losing the family home and his Open 60. Indeed it was only during that morning before he arrived at the Vendée port with the then Spirit of Weymouth that he got the news that a promised sponsorship had fallen through. While he was doing the passage to Les Sables d'Olonne his wife Kim had to borrow enough money to get to London to get his children's passports.

But on the return train journey she was breaking the sad news to the kids that not only was the Vendée Globe project off, but they might end up living somewhere else, when she had the call that a private individual would support them in the name of the Toe in the Water injured service personnel's charity.

"It was a bit of an incredible day really, but we have always been positive. We have never really known brick walls stop us and just kept going and going. The voice at the end of the phone just told us to just get on and get the boat ready and he would take care of everything." "I had tears in my eyes at the start and now I am already in a party mood, I can't wait to see him back." Kim recalls

As soon as he had the promise of money he had to squeeze a three month re-fit into three weeks.

Even on the morning of the start, as Dee Caffari lead the fleet out on her immaculately prepared Aviva, Toe in the Water looked more like the aftermath of Boy Scouts' jumble sale - stores and equipment piled improbably high on her decks - and White was almost at his wits' end with his team stowing materials until the last seconds. Software for his computers was loaded on the way to the start.

For all that his funding landed at the 11th hour and preparations last gasp were last gasp, White has sailed a prudent, passionate race, along with Sam Davies the race's most natural communicators, relaying his sheer pleasure to be out there, living the dream he had fought for nearly 10 years to realize.

Still racing:

 8. Steve White      (Toe in the Water)      at  123 miles to finish
 9. Rich Wilson      (Great American III)    at 2018 miles to finish
10. Raphaël Dinelli  (Fondation Océan Vital) at 2677 miles to finish
11. Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 3300 miles to finish
30  boats started

Vendée Globe web page

February 22. Sunday Video: Akena Vérandas arrives at Les Sables d'Olonne

A teenage dream came true today when Arnaud Boissières finished seventh this afternoon in his first Vendée Globe. At the age of seventeen, when he was ill with leukemia he was brought by with his father to see the first Vendée Globe heroes and to try and forget fro a few days his illness which had been discovered six months earlier.

At 14h35'50" GMT today (Sunday 22nd February) Boissières, the skipper of Akena Vérandas, crossed the finish line in seventh place after 105 days 02 hours 33 minutes and 50 seconds of racing averaging 11.04 knots on the water covering 27,841 n.m. He sailed the 24,840 theoretical miles at an average speed of 9.85 knots.

After two and a half years of chemotherapy, Arnaud Boissiˆ®res decided to earn his living from his passion for the sea. Cali raced in the 1999 Mini Transat when terrible conditions decimated the fleet. His boat was dismasted, but he completed the race after a pit stop in France. He raced twice subsequently, finishing third in 2001.

He also worked as a preparateur for Yves Parlier and Catherine Chabaud and sailed with Olivier de Kersauson on his Oryx round the world race attempt. Today, twenty years after the first Vendˆ©e Globe, his life has come full circle back to Les Sables d¬¼Olonne, where today he was welcomed by tens of thousands of spectators, as was the case for the six competitors, who finished before him.

In this particularly tough Vendˆ©e Globe, making it back to Les Sables d¬¼Olonne is in itself an achievement. Cali, as Arnaud is nicknamed, could never have imagined finishing seventh, when he set out. The icing on the cake after a round the world race that he managed prudently on his Open 60 which was launched back in 1998. A Finot-Conq design with a fixed keel that finished sixth in the hands of Thomas Coville in 2001 and fifth with Sˆ©bastien Josse in 2005, apart from a ripped solent, a broken wind generator and a satellite dome ripped off in the Pacific, he did not suffer any major damage, in spite of going through some severe storms, including one at Cape Horn, which he rounded for the first time on 16th January.

After a long struggle with Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson, Arnaud Boissiˆ®res got left behind in the climb back up the Atlantic, where he was handicapped by his torn solent. After a final North Atlantic low on 6th February, Cali completed his Vendˆ©e Globe in light airs in the Bay of Biscay. A gentle finish, mirroring the character of the skipper, whose quiet determination ensured that the project was smoothly run from the beginning to the end.

Arnaud Boissieres: "My boat was extraordinary. She already came sixth and fifth (in previous vendée Globe's), and now seventh [in the 2008-2009], so I owe her a lot. It's a bit like Roxy coming first, first and fourth. It is the designers, who came up with these great boats, and I just try to drive it as best I can. I tried not to break anything as I would have been told off afterwards.

The first to come out to me this morning was Dee Caffari, which was great as we did a lot of the race together and we often communicated with each other. These English sailors are extraordinary and I had a good relationship with Dee in particular. When you see all the people here, you start to wonder if you haven't done something extraordinary. I don't believe I've done anything out of the ordinary. I just sailed her as well as I could."

"Of course, I didn't expect such a welcome. There were crowds for Michel, Armel and Marc, so maybe people said it would be unfair if there weren't crowds out for me."

"I was told to finish today because the bar closes tonight. It was a great welcome. I'm from Arcachon, where you can find some fabulous oysters, but in Les Sables the atmosphere is special. I was adopted by the locals and the boat is from Vendée. I'll have to set up a twinning between Arcachon and here."

"I had time to get ready for this finish. A couple of days ago I had fishermen on the VHF asking about how I was. I have great respect for them and I found that really touching."

15:00 HRS GMT. Rankings:
 1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                finished after  84 days  3 hours, 9 minutes
 2. Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              finished after  89 days  9 hours 39 minutes
 3. Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                finished after  95 days  3 hours 19 mn. 36 sec 
 4. Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  finished after  95 days  4 hours 39 minutes 
 5. Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   finished after  98 days 20 hours 29 mn. 55 sec
 6. Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 finished after  99 days  1 hour  10 mn. 57 sec 
 7. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        finished after 105 days  2 hours 33 mn. 50 sec
Still racing:
 8. Steve White       (Toe in the Water)      at  533 miles to finish
 9. Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 2235 miles to finish
10. Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 3152 miles to finish
11. Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 3588 miles to finish 
RDG. Vincent Riou*     (PRB) 30 boats started

February 21. InBrief: Arnaud Boissières had less than 70 miles to sail to the finish this afternoon and was still making nearly seven knots, keeping him on target to arrive for a triumphant return up the channel in Akena Véranda's hope port of Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday afternoon.

He told today's radio session that he was already enjoying signs and memories of home, after having spoken with some Les Sables fishermen who congratulated him on his race: "I'm enjoying myself out here and having a nice time. Yesterday evening some dolphins came alongside and this morning an hour and a half ago, some fishermen from Les Sables congratulated me on the VHF. I have a lot of respect for them, and so I really appreciated that. I hope to see them again soon in Les Sables."

February 20. InBrief: Arnaud Boissières is into the last two days of his Vendée Globe and is due to complete his race in seventh place - estimated to be on Sunday. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) has been gaining miles after two good days of fast sailing and should get in to Les Sables d'Olonne in eighth place two days after the Akena Verandas skipper. The complex weather pattern seems cruel for Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) who is going to have to make a big westerly detour, pointing towards North America for much of the time.

Steve White's course has been rapid for the last three days but he now faces a slightly more complex weather pattern as he now approaches the high pressure area which protects Les Sables d'Olonne and the Bay of Biscay, but he has been able to regain over 100 miles on Boissières in the last couple of days and he should now arrive Tuesday, according to his current routing. He has been turning in close to 300 miles on each of the last two days and has been enjoying the quicker progress on his older boat. White had 838 miles to finish at 1430hrs GMT this afternoon, but he is expected to encounter stronger headwinds tomorrow with gusts to 35 knots.

Rich Wilson's attempts to reduce his speed temporarily to try and get more rest seemed to have worked as he managed to get into his bunk last night for the first time for some weeks, and achieve a better quality of rest. He was planning to remain under deep reefed main and a small storm jib while he a regrouped mentally and physically, moderating his speeds to the difficult, aggressive swell. Unfortunately for the race's oldest skipper, he is going to have to spend rather too many days pointing towards 'home' as he goes around the outside of the high pressure.

Raphael Dinelli was close to Fernando de Noronha this morning, making more than 9 knots while, 530 miles behind in his wake, Norbert Sedlacek is not much slower under double reefed main on Nauticsport-Kapsch. Dinelli was reporting Doldrums conditions today. The ICTZ are very large and very active so he will face a couple of days of pretty tough conditions with some big squalls... Sedlacek has good trades - the best conditions of the fleet at the moment - comfortable sailing beam reaching in 15-18 knots, one or two little trade winds squalls, but pretty much ideal today as he chases Dinelli

Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas): All is fine on Akéna. On Sunday, it will be fine too aboard the boat. I think it will be Sunday afternoon, but we'll see. So I'll try to finish after Church! Early afternoon would be good, as I could then head straight into the harbour.

February 19. InBrief: Arnaud Boissiëres is 411 miles from the finish of his first Vendée Globe but was making just less than three knots in the painfully slow going as he beats against the light winds to get to the line. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) is eating up the miles in great conditions for his older boat, and has less than 1130 miles to finish, he'd like to be in late Monday or Tuesday and is on course for eighth place.

A slow afternoon looks like following into the slow night, a slow Friday and a slow weekend for Arnaud Boissières as he finally has to bite into the sticky conditions which are settled between him and the finish line in Les Sables d'Olonne. Predictions are that he should bring Akena Veranda across the finish line on Sunday, but he will have to remain patient as there is not much set to change in the light upwind conditions which are due to prevail for his final 400 miles of racing which he needs to complete to land seventh place.

1500hrs Rankings:
Still racing:
 7 . Arnaud Boissières   (Akena Vérandas)        at  411 miles to finish
 8 . Steve White         (Toe in the Water)      at 1129 miles to finish
 9 . Rich Wilson         (Great American III)    at 2650 miles to finish
10 . Raphaël Dinelli     (Fondation Océan Vital) at 3633 miles to finish
11 . Norbert Sedlacek    (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 4160 miles to finish
RDG. Vincent Riou        (PRB). 3rd equal *
30 boats started 

*Three competitors "shared" third place in this Vendée Globe. Samantha Davies (Roxy) was the third to cross the finish 
line, Marc Guillemot (Safran) took third place from her on the podium because of his redress with the extremely narrow 
advantage of 1hour and 20', and Vincent Riou (PRB) was granted joint third place by the jury [as redress] - this was the 
position he was in the race when he went to the assistance of Jean Le Cam, before losing his mast - his mast was damaged 
during the rescue and was forced to retire.
 

Arnaud Boissières should be the next skipper to finish the Vendée Globe later this weekend, or perhaps early Monday, nearly a week after the triumphant arrival of Dee Caffari who he sailed the Southern Oceans with. Bossières with his Finot Conq design which is more than ten years old and went round before, finishing fifth in 2005 as Seb Josse's VM Matériaux, said today that he would take as long as it takes him to get home.

He is enjoying the privilege to be still racing. After 48 hours slowed in light and difficulty breezes 'Calli' was simply enjoying his final days at sea, making good speeds. He has reached the latitude of Les Sables d'Olonne but now must make his choice when he starts to try and breach this dominant high pressure system which stands between him and the finish line.

Meantime Sam Davies and Dee Caffari were in London today appearing on BBC Breakfast TV, telling more than 1 milllion viewers of the highlights and low moments on their respective races on Roxy and Aviva.

Steve White is on fine form today. Three simple components adding to his pleasure: good speed, a better course and a cup of tea. The sun was shining when the radio broadcast team spoke to White today, he was under staysail, gennaker and full main and touching 15 knots at times. While he is keen to get back to see his family, he, too was enjoying champagne sailing on Toe in the Water, reflecting that he is looking forwards to getting back for a 'few beers and a couple of days off' before knuckling down to his plans for 2012.

White seems to be on course to break the time of Josh Hall, who sailed the 2000-1 race when the boat was Gartmore, and completed the 26,700 miles course in 111 days 19 hours 48 minutes. The course this time is some 1940 miles longer than that race. White still had about 130 miles to pass the Azores.

And Rich Wilson's mood is matching his course.... steadily improving. He should see the NE'ly trade winds lifting for him as they veer to a more easterly direction but he is still very low on good sleep. But he was explaining today how he has been helped listening to the recorded chanting of monks to help take his focus off what is going on with the Great American III, and relax enough to maximize his rest time a bit more.

Yesterday he was concerned he might not be back in time for his mother's 93rd birthday next week, a source of some anxiety to him since she has been such an inspiration to him. She was a pioneer working in Alaska when she was younger. She moved from Seattle to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1938. As well as the mood relaxants, the 18 different monks' chants, he likes a blast of 'The Boss', Bruce Springsteen, perhaps when he needs to prepare to go on deck and change sails in difficult conditions.

February 17. Day 100. Now we are five:

15:00 HRS GMT. Rankings
 1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)               finished after 84 days  3 hours, 9 minutes
 2. Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)             finished after 89 days  9 hours 39 minutes
 3. Marc Guillemot    (Safran)               finished after 95 days  3 hours 19 mn 36 sec 
 4. Sam Davies        (Roxy)                 finished after 95 days  4 hours 39 minutes 
 5. Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)  finished after 98 days 20 hours 29 mn 55 sec
 6. Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                finished after 99 days  1 hour  10 mn 57 sec 
 7. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        at  880 miles to finish
 8. Steve White       (Toe in the Water)      at 1609 miles to finish
 9. Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 3016 miles to finish
10. Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 4097 miles to finish
11. Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 4589 miles to finish 
RDG.Vincent Riou      (PRB) 
30 boats started

InBrief: Five skippers have still to finish the Vendée Globe and on Day 100 of the grueling race it is not getting any easier for them. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) admitted he had been having 'one of those days' and yet was still on good form, while in contrast Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) is struggling to keep fully motivated, struggling with tiredness and the relentless pounding he and his boat have taken since he rounded Cape Horn. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT (Nauticsport-Kapsch) is hunkered down for the long haul. He has no headsail halyards and is sailing with only a double reefed mainsail, 480 miles behind his nearest rival Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital).

Every mile sailed is a mile closer to the finish, and every day - good or bad - should mean getting nearer Les Sables d'Olonne, but for the five skippers racing on in this Vendée Globe, Day 100 on course, brings a very different range of emotions.

For Norbert Sedlacek, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) the seemingly hard as nails Austrian this century at sea day is just like any other. Last week was more significant for him as he passed Day 94. Ninety three days was his longest spell previously at sea and now he is most looking forward to counting down to the Equator next week. He will be the first Austrian ever to complete a solo non stop circumnavigation and that is what drives the former Viennese transport executive turned adventurer. Asked about his motivation, today Sedlacek explained that for him it is about reaching his goal, but also each day he tried to do something better than he did the day before, or simply do one thing really well.

"For the last few thousand miles I have no idea about how long this will take to finish, if it is four weeks or five weeks. I will finish it. It doesn't matter I will do it." Explained Sedlacek, who is 480 miles behind Raphael Dinelli.

"The second thing is that it gets a little more difficult to motivate yourself when wake up in the morning, and your back is full of pain and your legs and arms feel like they weigh a thousand kilos, but that is part of the game in the Vendée Globe, so you have to find your way to motivate yourself, to bring back your power and to be good to yourself, and so when you shave, you make a nice shaving, or when you brush your teeth especially clean, and prepare some nice breakfast or something like that, and that will give you a stance for the day and you can then look forward to finishing it in good condition."

Sedlacek is racing with no headsails at the moment and will need to climb his mast to replace his foresail halyards when the wind and sea state are better, and he intends to make a repair to his mainsail track which is also damaged which means he can only sail with two reefs in the mainsail.

But Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) has been feeling the strain of his seemingly relentless slog up the Atlantic. In effect his Doldrums crossing appeared pretty straightforwards but he was in a small low pressure system which was giving him northerly winds today, and the culmination of having to continually sleep for only short bursts at the navigation station rather than get into his bunk because his autopilot does not get a wind reading now, is that he is certainly feeling the strain. He said he felt remote and a long way from his family, on his 100th day at sea. But the trade winds look quite brisk for him ahead and there will be little relief from his pounding for a while.

In eighth place Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) has been trying to work out his best option to get around or through the high pressure area protecting the west coast of Europe. He said he is determined not to make any wrong decisions this late in his race. Reminded to enjoy his time at sea to a maximum because back in real life there are all kinds of dismal recessions going on he quipped: "But then, now Woolworths is gone I don't think there is any point in coming home really . . ."

White has 1609 miles to sail and thinks he could be in by next Tuesday.

Latest Fleet Rank, Lat/Long, Distance to finish, Speed, Course, VMG

Vendée Globe web page

February 16. InBrief: Marc Guillemot (Safran) crossed the Les Sables d'Olonne finish line at 01h21min36sec GMT Sunday, to clinch a hard won third place in this epic sixth edition of the Vendée Globe solo non stop around the world race.

To complete his first Vendée Globe the skipper has had to sail for the final 1000 miles, since he was just to the NE of the Azores, with no keel. His keel dropped out of his boat on Monday 9th February and since then the skipper from La Trinité has had to sail prudently but still managed to wrest third from Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) by a net 1 hour and 19 minutes and 25 seconds, who finished Saturday. Guillemot received a time compensation of 82 hours for diverting from his course to assist in the evacuation of injured Yann Eliès 800 miles south of Australia in the Southern Ocean.

Accompanied by a fleet of media and spectator boats Guillemot crossed the finish line on a chilly, dark night, ending his epic race having taken a net 95 days 3hours 19 minutes and 36 seconds to complete the course.

Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) crossed the Vendée Globe finish line of Les Sables d'Olonne this morning at 8 hrs31min55sec GMT to secure a very creditable fifth place. Thompson, who fought to contain a keel problem through the final hours of his race, holding off the ongoing attack of his compatriot Dee Caffari (AVIVA) who finished later this morning.

Final rankings:
1-Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)              84d 03h 09min 08sec
2-Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)            89d 09h 39min 35sec (including 11h redress)
3-Marc Guillemot    (Safran)              95d 03h 19min 36sec (including 82h redress)
4-Samantha Davies   (Roxy)                95d 04h 39min 01sec (including 32h redress)
5-Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar) 98d 20h 29min 55sec
6-Dee Caffari       (Aviva)               99d  1h 10min 57sec

"Off the Kerguelens I hit a sea mammal and went from 20 knots to zero and it took me a while to get over that. I had never been so scared on a boat."

"Then the race was on again with Vincent and Armel at the West Australia Gate.

Denis Horeau called me to inform me about Yann Eliès. That was a very emotional moment as I knew he was injured but couldn't do anything. I felt powerless to do anything. I'd been through a similar experience and imagine the pain he was facing"

"I filmed and talked to Yann and the rescue team. The rescue was going so well and I felt strange filming it and just started to laugh. Even though I didn't have any physical contact, this will remain a memory of the race. Yann left and I chatted to the Australians, who threw me a packet. I didn't touch the red wine - you can check! In any case I'll be sharing it with Yann. They thought I was crazy and took a photo of me. As I hoisted the gennaker I saw the Australian boat 10 metres away taking pictures and I couldn't bear away. Another weird moment!"

"Then there were the islands. The Canaries where I was stuck, then Gough Island where I saw an explorer and we chatted in English on the VHF." "I decided to stop at Auckland Island for a pit stop. I had prepared it and it was a great place, although not very warm. I was in a sheltered bay and there were things moving on the beach - 3 explorers and 150 sea elephants. A funny encounter, even if climbing the mast wasn't so much fun. They couldn't make out what was going on. I didn't manage to do what I wanted. I thought I'd have a quiet night, but the sea elephants were very noisy."

"In the Pacific I was racing with Sam and the leaders, Jean Pierre, Mich, Bilou. I passed the Horn but didn't manage to see it. The mast track came off again in the Pacific in a different place so I put in to the Falklands.

There were the famous cruise boats that Bilou saw. They put in to the Falklands for supplies. Sailing up the coast of Brazil I came across the fishermen with their long lines, which stretched out for a couple of miles. Suddenly I saw them screaming at me. Fortunately they were limited to 5 or 6 knots. I suddenly realised that I was towing the markers, but fortunately they broke free at that point so they stopped chasing me."

"Close to the coast, there was a lot of stress with the oil rigs."

"The Equator and Doldrums were more or less in same place. Then there was the upwind sailing in the trade winds, which is the worst part in terms of comfort and fun. "

"After the collision (with the sea mammal) I contacted Guillaume Verdier about the keel shuddering but was reassured. Then by the North Atlantic it had got much worse. The seas were heavy after the storm passed through. They advised me about how to lash the keel in place. I thought I'd succeeded, but at that moment the keel head slid down. In a way it was something I hoped would happen, because a keel swinging around is a source of stress. So losing the keel was a great relief."

"Samantha was just ahead and I played around with the ballast and sails trying to find the way to sail safely. I think I was close to the edge several times. I slept with the sheet in my hand paying attention to the heel of the boat. The problem is you don't get much sleep like that. I wouldn't like to go through that again." "I had the right quantity of food with me, as I only started on the freeze dried food yesterday. Christine sorted things out for me like creams for my hands."

"Everyday I sent my route in to designers and my team based around a certain percentage of the boat's polars. Sailing upwind I had no idea. In the end sometimes I was above and sometimes below my estimates. When I saw head winds I was afraid it would be very difficult. This morning the routing said I would arrive at 3 so there was a lot of uncertainty, but hoping it was possible. The glimmer of hope was what kept me going. Yann told me to play it like a Figaro leg. He was right, but I'm exhausted. It was very close. Late this afternoon I had doubts until the final tack towards Yeu."

"I was wondering whether Pindar had lost her keel as she was only doing the same speed as me. It was a challenge fighting it out with Brian."

"It was very strange seeing the motorboats surround me and I couldn't see the line very easily. You go from a quiet world of being alone to noise and people, although I like seeing my friends. I'm happier with the design choices at the finish than at the start! There were a lot of complementary ideas that came together and this evening finishing I really enjoyed sailing her. She's a great boat!" "The UFO detector was on in most of the south. I didn't detect any growlers, perhaps because I avoided places where growlers could be found. The scientists would have liked to see it tested where you find growlers. More seriously, I think it's an interesting device."

Video: Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) arriving at Les Sables d'Olonne

Brian Thompson: "It's brilliant, what a day, what a beautiful day, sun’Äôs out, great seas, it's amazing, I've been fighting to stay ahead of Dee (Dee Caffari, AVIVA) the whole time and keeping my keel problem a secret, and last night the ram broke, and disengaged from the keel I'm amazed I’Äôve done any sailing at all, because every day I spent my whole time down below fixing various things, electronics, weather equipment, I mean it's just amazing."

"I'd rather have done the race with a bit more sailing involved but I'm pleased of myself for getting through all those things and not getting down and fighting every problem and somehow get to the finish line one way or another."

"20 minutes before I crossed the finish line, I thought I've only got to do one tack nothing can go wrong now, and just had a beautiful crossing of the line.

I had a few problems in the bow, but I managed to pull up the repairs, the worst thing was getting stuck up the mast on Christmas day, that was very rough, bumpy and not christmasy at all"

"She's obviously had a mainsail problem (on Dee Caffari aboard Aviva), but peen pushing quite hard, the keel not working for the last two three weeks has been hard, no electricity either, and no weather information, the last three days I've had very little power, and the only thing working was the autopilot."

"5th is an excellent result overall, I'm quite happy about that, I wanted to be in the top five, but I hadn’Äôt expected the race to be such a race of attrition, but that's pretty good out of 30 boats"

Dee Caffari (Aviva). There were people there waving and saying hello and I thought that was pretty cool and then a random motor cruiser came up and shouted Go Dee! And I thought wow I'm close to the finish now. Then when everybody came out towards me - I knew there would be some Ribs and stuff, but this sight was brilliant and it's such a gorgeous day. The sunset was beautiful and a lovely sunrise and I had dolphins, so I knew it was going to be a good day.

Video: Dee Caffari arriving at Les Sables d'Olonne

On finishing sixth: If you'd said that in the beginning, I'd have laughed in your face. I had an awesome start, then I made a few mistakes tactically in the Atlantic and the intensity of the race in the South Atlantic was just phenomenal. I sort of said, I'm not sure if I can do this. I was OK in the south, then I lost a bit of confidence in my first storm. Everybody was having lots of problems and that was when all the damage was happening and there was Yann's injury and I lost all my confidence then.

Cape Horn was interesting. It was quite nice to hang out and know that the other two were with me. And I had an awesome Atlantic - I suddenly turned the corner and I'd grown into my boat. I did the repair on the main to keep it going a little bit longer. We just decided as a team to go for it and if it fell apart we’Äôd deal with that later. I was really pleased to close the gap and then the Doldrums were a nightmare. A horrible two days, the worst two days of the race. I lost 300 miles to Brian in two days. Then I spent the North Atlantic closing the gap, but I just ran out of runway today. So I didn't quite get him, but I'm happy to have pushed him all the way to the line.

Literally I started sailing in an Open 60 eighteen months ago. In my first solo race I hated it and cried all the way and got dismasted right before the end. I thought, Oh my God! What have I let myself in for? But I loved this and have grown into the boat all the time.

And your team? The reason why I'm here is that they did such a good job preparing the boat. I owe them lots of booze and I know I did them proud. They're really chuffed with their project and we did it together. They did the boat and I just had to go and sail it and they've been there whenever I needed them.

February 15. InBrief: Marc Guillemot (Safran) still has 132 miles to sail and overnight he has not been able to make the target VMG which would bring him back to Les Sables d'Olonne within the time to clinch third place. He was only making 3.7 knots at 0400hrs this morning. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) had 156 miles to sail and was computed to be just 24 miles ahead of Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) at 0500hrs. All three are beating against light to moderate easterly winds.

Third place in this Vendée Globe could still go either way. While yesterday the balance looked to have tipped back in favour of the La Trinité skipper Marc Guillemot on Safran, the contrary winds have slowed him in his severely compromised boat, trying to complete the last of around 1000 miles with no keel and a reefed mainsail. With 132 miles to in just less than 23 hours (from 0330hrs GMT positions) his average VMG now needs to be closer to 5.8 knots. Yesterday it was 5.3 knots and this morning he had averaged 4.3 but even then his boat speed was down to 3.7 knots. With no significant changes in the wind strengths and pattern predicted over today, perhaps time is slipping away on Guillemot's chances of third. He has been sailing on waters he knows well, his Open 60 training grounds in effect. At one point he was just 5.5 miles off the coast at Penmarch point.

Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) will keep his loose cover on Dee Caffari, GBR (Aviva) on this final beat to the finish line. She is just 24 miles behind him in terms of distance to finish and has been a little quicker, but she still needs to head NE up to follow close to his line and so the theoretical figures are slightly skewed because they are beating and Caffari is closer to the direct course which does not take account of the wind direction. So Thompson still has the upper hand and his biggest worry would be any kind of park up tonight. Yesterday afternoon he was enjoying the challenge of having a race on his hands and will stick to first principles of staying between her and the finish line. Caffari has been 1 knot quicker.

Arnaud Boissières' exact position was not computed into the rankings this morning but he is still tracked fine. He has lost some miles and time due to his preference to stay east of the high pressure but he was 115 miles west of the Azores this morning and looking to feel the effects of some stronger SW'lies.

Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) is quickest in the fleet this morning, doing 12.8 knots and is making good time to the west of the high, gaining from his more direct course. He is still 550 miles behind Akena Verandas but looks like he might get a quicker passage north before they reach the influence of this blocking high pressure protecting Biscay which looks unlikely to move for some time. White's current ambition is to be in for next weekend.

Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) is at his steady 10-11 knots, eating up the northwards miles to get across the Equator which is 183 miles ahead of him. He made 260 miles over a productive 24 hours in the trade winds for him.

Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) is 350 miles east of Rio and is consistently between eight and nine knots. Norbert Sedlacek faces the tough challenge of going up his mast when he gets flatter seas as his second headsail halyard has gone and he is presently sailing under mainsail only.

February 14 - Sam Davies:

"I have just sailed around the world. It is amazing."

"It was an incredible finish, pretty full on. I managed to make the most of a nice sunset with 20 knots of wind and on the helm with my I-pod on singing out loud, then some fast reaching and then I was taken by surprise because the boats came out to meet me so early and stayed with me for about an hour. And so it was a bit full on because there was a lot more wind than I anticipated and so I had to do a bit of sail changing and so lots of action right up to the end of the race."

On what it felt like to cross the line: "It was kind of almost disbelief when I crossed, it really does just seem like yesterday when I was leaving, and I can't believe I have sailed all the way around the world, so it is really a weird feeling and I think it is going to take a couple of days to sink in what I have done."

"It does not feel like 97 days, it went really, really quickly. It is only when I think things like when I left here it was 2008 and now it is 2009 and things like that, that has been a bit of time."

On her finishing third, way beyond her expectations: "I never ever thought I might finish in third place, not at all, not at all, I could not even imagine being able to finish in fifth in the top five, I was kind of hoping to make the top 10, this really is a dream finish."

On here abundant energy and good humour, even in the face of adversity: "It really was all such fun. Maybe as well that is just my way of getting through the hard moments, trying to find the positive side of everything and use that energy to battle through the tough times, but, no I enjoyed every single day of this race, and I surprised myself even, I knew I would enjoy it, but I did not realise I would enjoy it this much and it is an amazing way to do the race.:

"It was brilliant to see everyone at the finish. They have done such a good job, supporting me, and sending me messages every day, and answering the phone whenever I called, and so it is really nice to see them, but because we have been so close and they have been supporting me, then it does not feel like we have been apart throughout the whole race. And it is nice, nice to see their faces. My mum and dad look really proud."

And anticipating the welcome when she goes down the canal at around 0900hrs local time Saturday: "I am quite glad I finished at low tide, giving me a little bit of peace to think about the welcome, and to think about the race I have done, instead of just going straight on land and having tons of people around me, so it is nice."

Video: Sam arriving at Les Sables d'Olonne!

Samantha Davies, GBR, (Roxy) crossed the finishing line at 00hrs 41mins 01 secs GMT as the third competitor to complete this epic sixth edition of the Vendée Globe solo non stop around the world race and return to Les Sables d'Olonne.

Ironically Davies will have to wait two days and two hours (50 hours) to see whether she hang on to third place in this sixth Vendée Globe as the final result will depend on Marc Guillemot's finishing time.

Guillemot was given a time compensation for standing by the badly injured skipper Yann Eliès who was rescued from his Open 60 Generali on 20th December.

95 days 4 hours 39 mins 01 sec WITH redress: Roxy crossed the finish in the midst of a dark February night, in the small hours of St Valentine's day, having sailed 27 470 miles on the water at an average speed of 12.02 knots.

Davies is the first British competitor to complete this edition of the race, which began off Les Sables d'Olonne back on 9th November 2008, and leads home Brian Thompson, GBR (Bahrain Team Pindar) and Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) who are on course to finish in fifth and sixth places respectively. They are likely to finish late Sunday or Monday.

If she is not displaced from third place (if Marc Guillemot does not finish before Monday morning), she will become only the second woman on the podium in the history of the race and the third British sailor after Ellen MacArthur in 2000-2001 and Mike Golding in 2004-2005.

Regardless if it proves to be third or fourth, it is an exceptional result for the 34-year-old, who with her Roxy team prepared Finot Conq designed boat which won the previous two races and is now nine years old.

Davies' sparky enthusiasm has been one of the constants of this remarkable race. Her effervescent moods, no matter the weather or her situation, belie a steely determination and a very accomplished attack around the race course. While se modulated her pace showing prudence when required, she equally proved capable of 'sending it' - keeping up high average speeds for long periods and she was also one of the few sailors in the race to cover more than 400 miles in one day (making 414 miles in 24 hours).

From the starting gun, Sam managed to keep the pace, staying with many of the newer designs simply by sailing smart and making astute routing decisions. Up to the Equator she occupied between tenth and fifteenth place.

Ater the Doldrums, as she crossed into the Southern Hemisphere, Samantha Davies was in fourteenth place 235 miles from the leader, Loöck Peyron. The voyage down with the SE'ly trade winds proved more difficult for the polka dot pink Roxy, which does not have the same power as the newer boats.

The British soloist proved she has stamina in all weather, in spite of an unfavourable stretch around the St. Helena high: she lost more than 300 miles in four days stuck in light airs, while the frontrunners made their getaway into the Roaring Forties and those chasing after were able to take a short cut across.

Davies on Roxy surfed along on the Southern Ocean swell and crossed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope still in fourteenth place, 560 miles behind Jean-Pierre Dick, who led the at that point.

Apart from her race performance, it is has been her ebullient, outgoing nature and her ability to convey her feelings that have gained her a huge following from all ages and both sexes, and immense respect and admiration from her fellow racers: nothing seemed to change her mood at sea in spite of finding herself up against such exceptional sailors.

The preparation of the pink Open 60 was a key factor, as she did not suffer any major damage. She chose to change as little possible from the proven features which had worked so well for Michel Desjoyeaux in 2000-1 and Vincent Riou in 2004-5 on this boat.

She sailed close to her first iceberg before reaching the Kerguelens. This stretch of the race was to see the downfall of many of her rivals, so that by Cape Leeuwin, Samantha Davies was tenth, 1035 miles behind Michel Desjoyeaux.

When Yann Eliˆ®ès was in difficulty 800 miles south of Perth, Australia with a fractured femur she suspended her race to sail at full speed to offer assistance alongside Marc Guillemot.

She got to within a few hours of the area just as the Australian Navy vessel had taken off Yann Eliˆ®s, and restarted the race with Marc Guillemot in conditions that were far from favourable: light winds and a heavy swell.

Already very much alone between the Kerguelens and Australia, Davies found herself totally alone, while Marc Guillemot carried out a pit stop off Auckland Island. Heading back up to the Pacific Ice gate was particularly tough with a series of very active low-pressure areas, which put an end to the race for a few more of her fellow competitors. By the Antipodes, the British sailor was up to eighth place.

But there was a whole ocean to still to climb. After a little under 63 days at sea, she rounded Cape Horn in fourth place in the rankings. Marc Guillemot was right behind her, in reality on corrected time ahead of her with his extra 50 hours redress. And there were still 7000 miles to go to les Sables d'Olonne.

Once again, Sam found herself alone, as Marc Guillemot stopped again in the Falklands to carry out more repairs to his mast track.

She was really to suffer during the climb back up the South Atlantic: once she had reached the latitude of Uruguay, she was taken prisoner by a thundery system and found herself stuck in the calms, which allowed Guillemot to get around her via the west by sailing close to the Brazilian coast, less than 30 miles at times.

The duel between the two competitors reached its high point in this stretch with positions changing several times. Davies had the advantage in this duel at the Equator and was in fourth place in the rankings.

She chose a rather risky route to get by the Azores high to the east and once again fell victim to the calms, while Marc Guillemot managed to find his way around the west: the battle continued until Safran lost her keel. Third place was now within her grasp!

February 13. InBrief 1500 hrs GMT: Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) is likely to break the finish line to the Vendée Globe around 0200hrs GMT (3 a.m. French time), crossing in third place after nearly 97 days at sea. The British skipper will enjoy her time waiting on the water with friends and family before the rising tide will permit her to make her triumphant return down the famous channel around 0800hrs GMT (0900hrs local). Davies will enjoy her weekend ashore but needs to wait for 50 hours to elapse until she will know if third overall can be hers. Marc Guillemot, 190 miles behind her this afternoon, needs to finish within 50 hours of the time Roxy breaks the line. All that can be computed is that Guillemot on Safran is due Monday some time.

Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) has closed to within 85 miles of Safran and is still nearly 100 miles ahead of Dee Caffari, GBR (Aviva).

Samanthia Davies said again today that she has not been even looking at the course, the speeds, and the weather that her pursuer Marc Guillemot has been making, so intense has her focus been on reaching Les Sables d'Olonne as quick as possible, but Sam Davies will have 50 hours to fill as best she can, waiting to see if Marc Guillemot can save his time on her and wrest third place on the Vendée Globe podium from the British skipper. One thing is for sure, at least until the arrival of her compatriots Brian Thompson and Dee Caffari on Monday, the Vendée Globe start and finish destination of Les Sables d'Olonne will be Sam's Town.

Davies had just 116 miles to sail this afternoon and was making a profitable 10 knots boat speed, which should bring her and her pink, polka dotted Roxy across the finish line around 0200hrs GMT (0300hrs local time), to complete her remarkable race. Overnight and this morning she was parked, hardly moving some 130 miles off the bay of Port La Foret where the British skipper did so much of her training, first in the Figaro in which she raced and trained for four years, and then latterly with the Open 60 which has already won the Vendée Globe twice in succession. If she can hold on to third place it will be a remarkable record for British skippers with Ellen MacArthur taking second in 2000-01 and Mike Golding third in 2004-5. She is assured of being only the fourth woman to finish the course, and the second quickest to MacArthur. She is leading her two British compatriots home, seeming set to land three of the top six places in this most grueling and demanding edition which has seen 19 of the 30 starters retire.

Her rival Guillemot sounded more upbeat and cheerful today, having had some rest last night and pulled back over 80 miles on the young British skipper. He was still saying that third place on the Vendée Globe podium is not his priority but his chances seem to have improved over the last 24 hours, and so far he has not had the slow down or indeed the park up that Davies had at the same time yesterday. He was making 6.9 knots this afternoon on Safran but will be sailing mainly on the wind with no keel and he had not yet tried port tack on his smaller daggerboard.

InBrief 0400 GMT: Marc Guillemot (Safran) has pulled back 60 miles on Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) who was slowed to a crawl for most of yesterday evening and last night. Averaging just two knots the British skipper covered just 18 miles from 1900hrs GMT to 0400hrs this morning. Guillemot, with no keel and a double reefed mainsail on Safran, is now 202 miles behind Davies who had 180 miles left to sail to the finish line, and had picked up a light northerly breeze early this morning.

Third place remains in the balance in this Vendée Globe. The only definite is that whoever takes the third step on the podium will be joined by Vincent Riou (PRB) who was awarded that equal place as redress.

It has been a painfully slow night for Sam Davies. Even late yesterday afternoon Roxy was making only one knot at times, stuck in glassy calms as she tried to make any kind of miles towards Les Sables d'Olonne. Afternoon became evening became night with no real increase in breeze until near dawn this morning then it has been a tough night to take for Davies, so close to home and not able to second guess what the weather cards will be dealt for Guillemot after she finishes.

The French skipper, with his net 50 knots of time allowance, has been slow but steady 4-6 knots while Roxy has been all but stopped. He has pulled back 67 miles since 1000hrs yesterday morning when he sounded defeated and disappointed, 269 miles behind Roxy.

This morning Davies looked to be easing into the gentle 8-10 knots of northerly breeze which she forecast yesterday and which should be enough to bring her and Roxy in to Les Sables d'Olonne late tonight or very early tomorrow morning. Davies may just be able to open more time again as Safran looks set to encounter the same very light ridge across the worst of the high and then headwinds, but in simple terms he still does look to be still in the running for third at the moment. The British skipper can only do what she can between now and the finish, and then it will depend on if Safran can finish within 50 hours.

February 12. InBrief - 15:00 GMT: Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) has less than 203 miles to complete to finish her remarkable Vendée Globe but has slowed to less than five knots as the high pressure system finally catches up with her. She leads Marc Guillemot, (Safran) by 263 miles but the skipper from La Trinité is holding his own this afternoon making 7.1 knots.

Bathed in sunshine with very little wind, Les Sables d'Olonne prepares for several hectic days of activity, starting with the arrival of Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) who is expected to break the finish line to complete her Vendée Globe some time late on Friday evening, or early Saturday morning.

Davies set out on November 9th from the Vendée start line suffused with ambition. Her main aims were to be first 'old' boat and to break the boat's race record from 2004-5 of 87 days 10 hours 47 minutes and to have felt she had sailed a good race. Finishing behind the 2007 launched Foncia and Brit Air, she may indeed finish as first new boat, but the odds do look to be in her favour at the moment that she may yet land third place overall in the race. As she said in today's radio broadcast, all she can do now is sail her fastest to get in and then it is down to the weather.

Sounding quite down and disheartened Guillemot said he considers third place may be beyond him now. He is not only 263 miles behind Davies, but is facing a long, slow beat to the finish with no keel and a very limited mainsail area. Indeed Guillemot reckoned today that he may finish after Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrian Team Pindar) and Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA).

While the breezes may be only light Guillemot had a warning he cannot push too hard. He said today that he had removed some ballast in an effort to make Safran slightly quicker and more responsive in the modest conditions and only just managed to keep his Open 60 on her feet when a relatively benign 9-10 knots puff hit, so he must simply keep plodding on with what little power he has to simply finish.

Tuesday Video from Samanthia Davies ROXY

InBrief - 0400GMT: The breeze is turning off for Marc Guillemot while Sam Davies has stayed with it. The British skipper has a lead of 218 miles, more than double what she had yesterday and her gains were still accumulating quickly. Every mile will count. She is expected to be caught by the high pressure by lunchtime today but meantime she has been making 12.9 knots, nearly twice what her French rival on Safran has been able to. The match between Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) and Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) is also finely balanced with Thompson holding a margin to 120 miles this morning, the pair making very similar speeds overnight.

With 313 miles to go at 0400hrs GMT this morning, showing no immediate signs of slowing down, and with a lead of about 220 miles, this morning could be crucial for Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) as she strives to land third place in the Vendée Globe. She has been working hard to keep her Open 60 in the best breeze and, while her rival Marc Guillemot on Safran has struggled with the lighter breezes he has been dealt by the developing high pressure system, averaging seven knots to Davies' 13.

Davies had spells reaching 12-14 knots during the night whilst Safran dropped to two knots at one stage.

Her strategy appears to be little different to what she alluded almost jokingly yesterday when she would head north until level with her house in South Brittany, above the latitude of Les Sables d'Olonne and this morning she was already between Lorient and Concarneau. She was still reaping the benefits of 10-12 knots NW'lies this morning, some 200 miles from the centre of this dominant anticyclone, which lies just to the NWW os C|ape Finisterre, while at something like 80 miles from the middle Marc Guillemot on the keel-less Safran looks to have closer to 8 knots and is still trying to make north.

The weather models suggest Davies may even hang to the breeze until around midday. Meantime Les Sables d'Olonne awakes this morning to sunshine and very light breeze.

"I have just been in the cockpit having another karaoke moment - making the most of one of my last nights out here on my own! Leaning on the coachroof looking backwards at Roxys wake, lit up by the moon and streaming out for as far as I could see. Singing out at the top of my voice! I wish I could stay out there all night, but I must rest, ready for a tough 24 hours of light wind sailing to get through the high "bubble" that is going to block our progress tomorrow night." Said Davies yesterday evening.

Brian Thompson is now around 280 miles behind Marc Guillemot and he and Dee Caffari have been in fast reaching mode all night. Caffari is just passing the latitude of Cape Finisterre and has been slightly quicker than Thompson this morning, but Bahrain Team Pindar is 120 miles ahead. They look to be well matched for speed and will continue to work to the NW to try and stay away from the worst effects of the anticyclone for as long as possible, more or less following the track taken by Guillemot and Davies for the moment. They will continue to gain on Safran, meaning that after a wait of more than five days for the second boat to finish, and what looks like nearly a week for the third, then we might see three boats finish in comparatively short order from Saturday.

Winds continue to be inconsistent and frustrating for Arnaud Boissières who is level with the Canary Islands now. He is making closer to nine knots early this morning, but his speeds through the night on Akena Véranda were erratic, while Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) still looks to have about 200 miles of trade winds sailing left to continue to catch the French skipper. He is still 481 miles behind.

Rich Wilson has also been frustrated by the conditions he is being given some 150 miles off the Brasilian coast, almost Doldrums like at times with clouds which suck away the light trades he should have, and cause big wind shifts. "What is going on here?" he asked rhetorically last night. He has been making between seven and nine knots.

Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) and Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) are in headwinds with the Austrian skipper making about two knots quicker.

February 11. At 18:20 GMT:

                                                   distance   Distance   Speed                                                    
18:30 GMT:                                         to finish  to leader   Knts    VMG                                     
Samantha Davies (Roxy)   45 53.99' N, 11 58.11' W.   922.4        0.0 	  12.3    12.0   
Marc Guillemot  (Safran) 46 39. 5' N, 16 05.99' W.   934.6      170.0      7.5     4.6    

                                                   distance  distance    Distance  Speed                                                    
18:30 GMT:                                         to finish to leader    covered  Knts    VMG  Course                                    
Samantha Davies (Roxy)   41 13.63' N, 21 54.14' W.   922.4     0.0 	   59.7    15.0    14.9    56 	
Marc Guillemot  (Safran) 42 37.97' N, 23 02.77' W.   934.6    12.2         41.1    10.4    10.3    58

Le classement de 15:00 GMT
 1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) arrivé aux Sables d'Olonne après 84j 03h 09'
 2. Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air) arrivé aux Sables d'Olonne après 89 jours 9 heures 39 minutes et 35 secondes de course 
(après déduction de ses 11 heures de bonification)
 3. Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                à 1206,9 milles de l'arrivée
 4. Samantha Davies   (Roxy)                  à 1314,5 milles 
 5. Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   à 1747,2 milles
 6. Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 à 1828,6 milles
 7. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        à 2413,9 milles
 8. Steve White       (Toe in the water)      à 3169,9 milles
 9. Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    à 4694,9 milles
10. Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) à 5880,7 milles
11. Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport-Kapsch)    à 6268,5 milles
RDG Vincent Riou      (PRB), réparation accordée, classé 3e 
30 concurrents au départ. 
RDG = réparation accordée par le jury)

1500hrs GMT. Rankings:
 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                finished after 84 days 3 hours, 9 minutes
 2 . Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              at  286 miles to finish
 3 . Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  at 1698 miles to finish
 4 . Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                at 1897 miles to finish
 5 . Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2114 miles to finish
 6 . Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 at 2240 miles to finish
 7 . Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        at 2747 miles to finish
 8 . Steve White       (Toe in the Water)      at 3545 miles to finish
 9 . Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 4997 miles to finish
10 . Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 6245 miles to finish
11 . Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 6699 miles to finish 
RDG. Vincent Riou      (PRB). 3rd equal. 
30 boats started.

 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux  (Foncia)                finished after 84 days 3 hours, 9 minutes
 2 . Armel Le Cléac'h   (Brit Air)              at  742   miles to finish
 3 . Sam Davies         (Roxy)                  at 2012   miles to finish
 4 . Marc Guillemot     (Safran)                at 2211   miles to finish
 5 . Brian Thompson     (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2377.6 miles to finish
 6 . Dee Caffari        (Aviva)                 at 2634.8 miles to finish
 7 . Arnaud Boissières  (Akena Vérandas)        at 2373.1 miles to finish
 8 . Steve White        (Toe in the Water)      at 3998.5 miles to finish
 9 . Rich Wilson        (Great American III)    at 5468.3 miles to finish
10 . Raphaël Dinelli    (Fondation Océan Vital) at 6603.4 miles to finish
11 . Norbert Sedlacek   (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 6276.2 miles to finish  
RDG. Vincent Riou (PRB). 3rd equal.  
30 boats started.

 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                finished after 84 days 3 hours, 9 minutes
 2 . Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              at 1028.9 miles to finish
 3 . Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  at 1152   miles to second
 4 . Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                at 1317   miles to second
 5 . Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 1525   miles to second
 6 . Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 at 1826   miles to second 
 7 . Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        at 2253   miles to second
 8 . Steve White       (Toe in the Water)      qt 3214   miles to second
 9 . Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 4572   miles to second 
10 . Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 5753   miles to second
11 . Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 6190   miles to second  
RDG. Vincent Riou (PRB). 3rd equal. 
30 boats started.

 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux  (Foncia)       finished after 84 days 3 hours, 9 minutes
 2 . Armel Le Cléac'h   (Brit Air)              at 1375.8 miles to finish
 3 . Sam Davies         (Roxy)                  at  996.6 miles to second
 4 . Marc Guillemot     (Safran)                at 1109.9 miles to second
 5 . Brian Thompson     (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 1395.9 miles to second
 6 . Dee Caffari        (Aviva)                 at 1701.5 miles to second
 7 . Arnaud Boissières  (Akena Vérandas)        at 2070.2 miles to second
 8 . Steve White        (Toe in the Water)      at 3080.9 miles to second
 9 . Rich Wilson        (Great American III)    at 4329.5 miles to second
10 . Raphaël Dinelli    (Fondation Océan Vital) at 5626.1 miles to second
11 . Norbert Sedlacek   (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 5996.7 miles to second 
RDG. Vincent Riou       (PRB). 3rd equal. 
30 boats started.

1900hrs GMT. Rankings, Sunday:
 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux   (Foncia)                finished Sunday at 15:11hrs GMT
 2 . Roland Jourdain     (Veolia Environnement)  at 1324   miles to finish
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h    (Brit Air)              at  263.7 miles from first place
 4 . Sam Davies          (Roxy)                  at 1242.4 miles from first place 
 5 . Marc Guillemot      (Safran)                at 1329.8 miles from first place 
 6 . Brian Thompson      (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 1602.2 miles from first place 
 7 . Dee Caffari         (Aviva)                 at 1869.3 miles from first place 
 8 . Arnaud Boissières   (Akena Vérandas)        at 2274.5 miles from first place 
 9 . Steve White         (Toe in the Water)      at 3266.7 miles from first place 
10 . Rich Wilson         (Great American III)    at 5885   miles from first place 
11 . Raphaël Dinelli     (Fondation Océan Vital) at 5883.2 miles from first place 
12 . Norbert Sedlacek    (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 7392   miles from first place

0400hrs GMT. Rankings:
 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux  (Foncia)                at 331.4 miles to finish
 2 . Roland Jourdain    (Veolia Environnement)  at 1514.9 miles from first place
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h   (Brit Air)              at 1929.7 miles from first place   
 4 . Sam Davies         (Roxy)                  at 2601.4 miles from first place
 5 . Marc Guillemot     (Safran)                at 2700.9 miles from first place
 6 . Brian Thompson     (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2897.9 miles from first place  
 7 . Dee Caffari        (Aviva)                 at 3005.8 miles from first place
 8 . Arnaud Boissières  (Akena Vérandas)        at 3628.7 miles from first place
 9 . Steve White        (Toe in the Water)      not reported this morning, still tracked OK.
10 . Rich Wilson        (Great American III)    at 5745.6 miles from first place
11 . Raphaël Dinelli    (Fondation Océan Vital) at 7283.2 miles from first place
12 . Norbert Sedlacek   (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 7400.9 miles from first place
RDG. Vincent Riou       (PRB) 3rd equal. 
30 boats started

0400 HRS GMT. Rankings
 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                at 1724  miles to finish
 2 . Roland Jourdain   (Veolia Environnement)  at  523   miles from first place
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              at  995.8 miles from first place  
 4 . Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  at 2084.3 miles from first place
 5 . Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                at 2095.7 miles from first place
 6 . Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2420.9 miles from first place
 7 . Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 at 2457.6 miles from first place
 8 . Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        at 2927.8 miles from first place
 9 . Steve White       (Toe in the water)      at 3684.3 miles from first place
10 . Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 5187.9 miles from first place
11 . Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 6901.4 miles from first place
12 . Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 6991.1 miles from first place
RDG. Vincent Riou      (PRB). 3rd equal. 
30 boats started

0400 HRS GMT. Rankings
 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                at 1724  miles to finish
 2 . Roland Jourdain   (Veolia Environnement)  at  523   miles from first place
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              at  995.8 miles from first place  
 4 . Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  at 2084.3 miles from first place
 5 . Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                at 2095.7 miles from first place
 6 . Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2420.9 miles from first place
 7 . Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 at 2457.6 miles from first place
 8 . Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        at 2927.8 miles from first place
 9 . Steve White       (Toe in the water)      at 3684.3 miles from first place
10 . Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 5187.9 miles from first place
11 . Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 6901.4 miles from first place
12 . Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 6991.1 miles from first place
RDG. Vincent Riou      (PRB). 3rd equal. 
30 boats started

29 second Visual of todays Fleet position's

InBrief: Michel Desjoyeaux sees his lead is now back over 500 miles this morning ahead of Roland Jourdain who is making steadier speeds again but still has less wind than the leader. In turn Jourdain is over 500 miles ahead of third placed Armel Le Cléac'h. Marc Guillemot (Safran) has been within 13 miles of the Brasilian coast and has profited from a land effect breeze to ease 69.7 miles ahead of Sam Davies, GBR (Roxy) who is top international skipper. It is the 36th birthday of Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva).

January 22. Daily Video Report: Day 74 - Thursday

Thursday Video Report from: Samanthia Davies ROXY

Video Report from Pindar and other Vendée Globe boats in the fleet

InBrief: Nothing seems to stop the gains of Michel Desjoyeaux, who leads by more than 481 miles this afternoon, but he once more confirmed that his round the world passage has been far from charmed. He said, again, today that he had dealt with an incident which could have put his race in jeopardy 'just close the Pacific Gate'. Desjoyeaux has gained 40 miles today although Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) in second appears to be emerging from the Doldrums and has his IMOCA Open 60 averaging more than 10 knots.

In sixth place, Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) reflected today on the possibility of an initiative for the strong group of British based IMOCA Open 60's to work more closely together in the future to raise the overall standards. The gulf between leader Michel Desjoyeaux and Roland Jourdain grows ever bigger as the Foncia skipper continues to reap the rich reward of being nearly 500 miles clean away into the NE'ly trade winds before his nearest rival has emerged from the disturbed, unpredictable airs of the Doldrums.

Asked directly at today's radio vacations about the problem which he had dealt with which had potentially jeopardized his race, Desjoyeaux typically he only served to seed more interest but give no direct answers while he is still racing: "I was indeed lucky". He said, "I'll show you that at the finish. The problem I had could have brought the race to an end for me. I managed to get through it. Half a second later and things would have been very different. I'll give you a demonstration at the finish. I had ten metre high waves and 40 knots. One night slowed down to 6 knots when I should have been doing twice that, but no one seemed to notice. I was lucky."

After dealing with the Azores high pressure system which should only slow him down a little Desjoyeaux may be looking to a slingshot to Les Sables d'Olonne by typically brisk Westerly airstreams. At the current rate, he could finish between 1.5 and two days ahead of Jourdain, which would be the biggest margin since 1996-7 when Christophe Augin won by six days and 12 hours, triumphing in the last race to have an attrition rate close to that which has prevailed in this epic edition. Certainly, if the current trend continues, then Desjoyeaux's margin over second placed Ellen MacArthur, one day and 50 minutes would be exceeded.

While Sam Davies in fifth place is the best of the of the British skippers still in the race, but Brian Thompson, sixth on Bahrain Team Pindar, has been considering what he and his compatriots may be able to do to improve the overall standard and learn from what has proven the most successful formula this time around. Indeed Thompson is the first skipper in the fleet who does not train with the French Port La Foret training group. "One of the differences is that we are out there sailing in 35 knots of wind and simply do much more sailing." Explained Seb Josse, the BT skipper, speaking on today's radio vacation. Thompson said that he has already spoken with Jonny Malbon, now back in the UK, about working together in the near future.

Sam Davies, GBR (ROXY): " It is really hard to tell with the weather forecasts which are not very accurate at the moment, but in general, practical terms I would not like to be very close to that coast at the moment, normally there is not much wind around and also I as go north then the wind should go round to the north east and so I'll be able to tack on to starboard earlier than Marc, having a little better angle. But we'll see, the weather is not behaving just exactly as it should do. I figure he is going to have to use the land breeze effect to wriggle his way out of this front, it is really hard I have spent the last two days in that front, the same front he is in, and every time I got close, I could feel it, I could see the clouds moving in the right direction above the mast and the waves were coming in the right direction but I just never managed to get through. I think he is going to have it similar."

Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar): "It's nice beach weather here are 35 degrees south, it is sunny, about 10 knots of wind, and we are running downwind with the big spinnaker and full main and we'll gybe later today and then should get some more 'reaching' wind which should take us up towards Rio. All is good on board." "It has been very interesting since the Falklands. There has been a band of wind that I have been just in front of, just a narrow band and I just ran out of it, and Dee has managed to stay in it. It is a very narrow band. Arnaud just unfortunately dropped out of it. It was only about 150 miles wide and went all the way from the Falklands to here."

 
1500 HRS GMT. Rankings:
 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux  (Foncia)                2721 miles to finish
 2 . Roland Jourdain    (Veolia Environnement)  at  481.2 miles from first place
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h   (Brit Air)              at 1019.4 miles from first place 
 4 . Marc Guillemot     (Safran)                at 1940.5 miles from first place 
 5 . Sam Davies         (Roxy)                  at 1990.7 miles from first place 
 6 . Brian Thompson     (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2638.5 miles from first place 
 7 . Dee Caffari        (Aviva)                 at 2677.6 miles from first place 
 8 . Arnaud Boissières  (Akena Vérandas)        at 2793.8 miles from first place 
 9 . Steve White        (Toe in the water)      at 3708.6 miles from first place 
10 . Rich Wilson        (Great American III)    at 5163.8 miles from first place 
11 . Raphaël Dinelli    (Fondation Oc’àö¬©an Vital) at 6892.4 miles from first place 
12 . Norbert Sedlacek   (Nauticsport - Kapsch)  at 6933.7 miles from first place
RDG. Vincent Riou (PRB) 3rd equal. 
30 boats started.

28 second Visual of today's Fleet position's

InBrief: Second placed Roland Jourdain is now feeling the unwanted effects of the Doldrums. Michel Desjoyeaux is in the NE'ly trades and gained 30 miles between the overnight rankings. With four days of trade winds sailing ahead he should see his lead build. Seeking to avoid the worst of the lighter winds ahead of them Arnaud Boissières (Akena Verandas) has split away from the British pair Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) and Dee Caffari (Aviva). Guillemot's podium aspirations still on course as Safran is quickest overnight.

Roland Jourdain the skipper of Veolia Environnement has been slowed down as he appears to have entered the ITCZ (Doldrums) while still only sailing at 3° south, which tends to indicate that the Doldrums have moved down, to the south rather than back up to the north of the Equator. His only hope now is that these calms and thundery squalls will not return north to their more normal position, as he passes through, they would stay with him, stuck for some time.

With his lead grown back to 341 miles, a 28 miles overnight gain, by way of contrast Michel Desjoyeaux is back on the upturn. The leader now for 36 days has found the steady trade winds, a 20-knot NE'ly flow, which is forecast to strengthen over the coming hours. There is not a lot of work to do out on deck, except pick up the flying fish and keep an eye on the squalls and stay patient and focused. In these headwinds with 2-metre high waves and stifling heat, it is important not to put to much strain on the boat, which has already covered some 20,000 miles. This upwind sailing is set to last for at least four days.

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) is not likely to reach the Doldrums until the weekend, which means the situation could certainly change considerably by the time he approaches. There are few tactical opportunities for him, so he continues to head north in the easterly trade winds to try to pass the Doldrums at 33° west.

Marc Guillemot (Safran) and Samantha Davies (Roxy) are working around a Brazilian low, which is heading off east to Africa. The skipper of Safran is close to the coast near Rio and at some point is going to have to move back east to pick up the trade winds ahead and perhaps concede some miles back to Davies, who has been moving well again after more than 48 hours of light airs penance. She was making a consistent 15 knots on Roxy during the small hours of the morning (GMT). Now, having gained more than 100 miles to be less than 800 miles from Le Cléac'h, despite being hampered by his enforced double reefed mainsail, he seems increasingly determined boost himself on the podium by the finish.

The three heading up north off the coast of Uruguay are adopting various strategies. Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) hit the lighter airs first and so has lost ground to Dee Caffari (Aviva). At 0400hrs GMT he was making just 5knots, while Caffari was still trucking along at 10knots plus. She is now less than 60 miles behind Thompson. As for Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas), he has moved more than 100 miles to the west and is no longer in the same weather system. The French skipper has opted for a route close to Mar del Plata, believing the two British sailors will find themselves trapped in a wind hole ahead.

Sailing at more than 15 knots, Steve White (Toe in the water) is by far the fastest in the fleet, pushed along by the strong westerlies since the Falklands in a low pressure system.

Rich Wilson (Great American III) still has 1180 miles of the Pacific to cover, while the two at the rear of the fleet are now on their way eastwards towards the final Ice Gate.

1500hrs HRS GMT. Rankings:

 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                at 3052.2 miles to finish
 2 . Roland Jourdain   (Veolia Environnement)  at  341.0 miles from first place
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              at 1031.3 miles from first place
 4 . Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                at 1825.6 miles from first place
 5 . Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  at 1876.3 miles from first place
 6 . Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2522.0 miles from first place
 7 . Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 at 2581.7 miles from first place
 8 . Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        at 2699.2 miles from first place
 9 . Steve White       (Toe in the water)      at 3690.1 miles from first place
10 . Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 5165.1 miles from first place
11 . Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 6873.3 miles from first place
12 . Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport . Kapsch)  at 6880.3 miles from first place
RDG. Vincent Riou      (PRB). 3rd equal. 
30 boats started.

InBrief: Michel Desjoyeaux, Vendée Globe leader for 35 days, has picked up speed again and crossed the Equator back into the Northern Hemisphere at around 0514hrs GMT this morning. From 500 miles of advantage on Sunday night he has seen his lead trimmed to 334.9 miles this morning as he struggled with the Doldrums conditions.

It may not be the Doldrums, but for Samantha Davies (Roxy), to the south of Rio, the effect is the same. Struggling in light winds her average speed over 24 hours has dropped to 6.5 knots. At the same time, Marc Guillemot (Safran), closer to the Brazilian coast has maintained his speed (11.6 knots) meaning that he is now just 35 miles from Sam, whereas 48 hours ago, 250 miles separated them.

Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) passed Cape Horn for the first time last night, rounding at 2030hrs GMT in ninth position. Only three Vendée Globe boats remain in the Pacific. Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) continues to thrive in the remains of the strong winds and has been quickest over the last 24hrs, and was still making 16.9 knots average this morning.

Has Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) escaped from the Doldrums even before crossing the Equator? That is the impression we get this morning, with his speed back up to 9.9 knots, but in this unpredictable zone, you cannot jump to any hasty conclusions. The violence of the squalls could still offer some surprises to the clear leader in the sixth Vendée Globe. 334 miles further south, Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) must be feeling more pleased after regaining 160 miles in 36 hours. At 13.3 knots this morning, he is making the most of the steady trade winds to win back the miles from his rival.

The battle is raging too between the Cape Horn Trio, Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar), Dee Caffari, GBR (Aviva) and Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) off the Valdès Peninsula in Argentina.

0400 HRS GMT. Rankings
 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                at 3266.3 miles to finish
 2 . Roland Jourdain   (Veolia Environnement)  at  334.9 miles from first place 
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)              at 1022.8 miles from first place 
 4 . Sam Davies        (Roxy)                  at 1898.4 miles from first place 
 5 . Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                at 1933.6 miles from first place 
 6 . Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)   at 2590.5 miles from first place 
 7 . Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                 at 2659.5 miles from first place 
 8 . Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)        at 2707.8 miles from first place 
 9 . Steve White       (Toe in the water)      at 3685.0 miles from first place 
10 . Rich Wilson       (Great American III)    at 5152.9 miles from first place 
11 . Raphaël Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital) at 6877.5 miles from first place 
12 . Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport. Kapsch)   at 6886.3 miles from first place 
RDG. Vincent Riou      (PRB). 3rd equal. 
30    boats started.

22 second Visual of todays Fleet position's

InBrief: Michel Desjoyeaux's (Foncia) lead has stabilised now as he starts to meet the first lines of resistance from the active Doldrums, but with just under 500 miles of a cushion he will not be too worried. In second place Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) has been quicker than Mich Desj overnight, but has regained only a tiny five miles.

Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water), ninth placed, is making 12-13kts towards Cape Horn and was 180 miles due west of it at 0400hrs this morning. Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) was quickest overnight and shares the best distance run for the last 24h with Marc Guillemot (Safran).

Even if Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has been slowed a little now on his dash towards les Sables d'Olonne, there is still a huge gap back to his second placed friend from Port-la-Forêt, Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), who in turn has been extending his lead over Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air). In effect the Atlantic has been consistently kind to some and cruel to others in how it has rationed the supply of wind. In truth the big ridges of high pressure have been persistent and tough to escape from for some, while others have been offered a diet of small low pressure systems to keep them moving well.

And while, from her disposition it might appear that the sun has shone and the winds have always been at her back in the pink tinged world of Sam Davies, the British skipper and Armel Le Cléac'h have been made to work hard all the way up the Atlantic so far.

Some huge differences in speeds can be noted this morning. Davies says she has beaten her record for going slowly, while Marc Guillemot (Safran) behind her is hooning along at more than 16 knots.

January 18. Daily Video Report: Day 70 - Sunday

InBrief: Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has grown his lead to 421 miles this morning over Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement). Desjoyeaux has been averaging three knots faster than his pursuer. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water), ninth, has been sailing with no mainsail after his headboard is reported to have broken away from the sail. Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) and Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) are still racing in perfect synch, one mile between them in terms to distance to finish.

The figures are indisputable, Michel Desjoyeaux's advantage grows by the hour. Averaging 16 knots this morning to his nearest rival's 12.2 knots, the Foncia skipper is marching further ahead all the time, with an ominously big lead now of 421 miles. There will be some re-compression at the Doldrums when Mich Desj slows first, but even with the most of a Transatlantic race still to complete, many would consider that Foncia's lead is enough to allow the winner of the 2000-1 Vendée Globe to perhaps sail a little more conservatively.

Behind the leader, the fleet is spread out from the coast of Brazil to the Pacific Gates. The furthest west, Rapha’àö¬¥l Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) and Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) seem to be sticking to their agreement to work together. One mile apart in terms of DTF, they are clearly matching each other at the same pace, even if this cautious approach is not going to offer them quick speeds, their goal is to finish in Les Sables d'Olonne, their home port where their Open 60's lie alongside each other. They have 200 miles to go to the West Pacific ice gate.

Eighty miles north of the Falklands, and about 50 miles behind Arnaud Boissières Dee Caffari (Aviva) is getting ready to patch her mainsail. A tricky operation as she will have to take her sail down to fourth reef, spread out the damaged surface in her cockpit and stick patches from one of her headsails over the damaged areas. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) is not short of jobs to do on board either and has issues with his wind generator and a burning smell from his engine - which he believes to be the clutch plates - to deal with in the gentler weather. Sailing under full mainsail and solent for the first time in weeks Sam Davies' maintenance programme on Roxy has kept her busy, but her jobs have been mainly routine: replacing splices and keep her pink Open 60 in fine fettle. She is in a complex sequence of light winds in the big high pressure zone, but continues to work industriously to keep going quick. Proof, as ever that to complete a Vendée Globe, you need to be a mechanic, sailmaker, as well as being an expert in composites and electronics.

And Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) is sailing at reduced speeds as he makes his final 430 miles towards Cape Horn for the first time. White reported yesterday that his mainsail headboard car had parted company with the sail and is stuck at the top spreaders. He will wait until the sea state improves and the winds drop before attempting to retrieve it, but meantime he is still making a regular eight to nine knots average.

In tenth Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America II) had just 50 more miles to complete to get to the East Pacific gate but has been bounced around in rougher weather, and big cross seas - beam reaching in 6-7 metres of crossed seas. He reports he is very underslept but the breeze should ease and back to a more Westerly direction giving him some respite this afternoon.

January 17. Daily Video Report: Day 69 - Saturday

InBrief: Michel Desjoyeaux's lead has never been bigger now that he has reached the SE'ly trade winds. Since Thursday evening he has added nearly 100 miles to his margin over Roland Jourdain and now leads by 373.5 miles, a lead never yet seen in this edition of the race.

Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) will be next to round Cape Horn, probably on Monday in ninth place.

Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva), eighth, is trying to hang on to her French rival Arnaud Boissi’àö¬Æres (Akenas Vérandas) in 25-35 knots of SW'ly wind with her damaged mainsail, but pledges again today that she will finish this race come what may.

Unai Basurko, ESP, (Pakea Bizkai) who retired in the South Atlantic on 7th December welcomed home to Bilbao today.

January 16. Daily Video Report: Day 68 - Friday

0400 HRS GMT:

1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)               at 4313 miles to finish
2. Roland Jourdain   (Veolia Environnement) at  270 miles from first place
3. Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)             at  687 miles from first place
4. Sam Davies        (Roxy)                 at 1614 miles from first place

At the head of the fleet Michel Desjoyeaux, who has lead for 31 days, is 270 miles ahead of Roland Jourdain and about 1000 miles from the Equator.

In fourth place off the Argentine coast Sam Davies (Roxy) had been making steady upwind progress, in slightly bumpy unpleasant conditions but for the British skipper that has given way now to crawling along in light and very fickle breezes. Marc Guillemot (Safran) in fifth is 350 miles behind Davies.

January 15. Daily Video Report: Day 67 - Thursday

35 sec Thursday Video from Samanthia Davies

InBrief: Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) passed Cape Horn at around 0315hrs GMT this morning, just over two miles off the legendary rock. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has regained some of the miles he lost to Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnment) as he stretches into more favourable wind. Marc Guillemot (Safran) completed his pit stop to work on his mast track after seven hours in the east of the Falklands, moored to a buoy just north of Port Stanley.

0400 HRS GMT Rankings:

 1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)                   at 4497 miles to finish
 2 . Roland Jourdain   (Veolia Environnement)     at  263 miles from first place 
 3 . Armel Le Cléac'h  (Brit Air)                 at  718 miles from first place 
 4 . Sam Davies        (Roxy)                     at 1654 miles from first place 
 5 . Marc Guillemot    (Safran)                   at 2063 miles from first place 
 6 . Brian Thompson    (Bahrain Team Pindar)      at 2521 miles from first place 
 7 . Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)           at 2692 miles from first place 
 8 . Dee Caffari       (Aviva)                    at 2750 miles from first place 
 9 . Steve White       (Toe in the water)         at 3818 miles from first place 
10 . Rich Wilson       (Great American III)       at 4986 miles from first place 
11 . Norbert Sedlacek  (Nauticsport . Kapsch)     at 6661 miles from first place 
12 . Rapha’àö¬¥l Dinelli   (Fondation Océan Vital)    at 6664 miles from first place 
RDG. Vincent Riou      (PRB). 3ème

InBrief: The search for release is common to the trio who are approaching Cape Horn and the leaders but from very different conditions. Trying to escape from a vicious storm Brian Thompson, Dee Caffari and Arnaud Boissières will welcome the change when they reach the Atlantic, while for leaders Michel Desjoyeaux and Roland Jourdain, relief from the light winds of the high pressure zone beckons in the form of the trade winds. Second placed Jourdain's gains amount to 100 miles since 1900hrs GMT Monday night and he is now only 241 miles behind the leader.

After the worst of a vicious storm to the north west of Cape Horn British skipper Dee Caffari is walking something a tightrope at the moment, trying to push Aviva as hard as possible, doing the best to escape into her final the Atlantic before the worst of a second big depression arrives, whilst still trying to do as little further damage to her ragged mainsail.

With winds over 60 knots and mountainous seas, the trio who will be next to the Cape are being lead there by Brian Thompson. The Bahrain Team Pindar skipper admits this morning that he had prepared for every eventuality he could consider, ensuring he even had knives and torches in his pockets in case he was rolled over while he anticipated the beating they were going to take at the hands of a malicious depression.

Thompson gybed south at 2030hrs yesterday to parallel the Chilean Coast and at 0400hrs GMT had 280 miles to Cape Horn. Hand steering through some of the biggest swells, he likened the 'exhilarating' experience to taking a 60 foot snowboard through deep powder snow. The Akena Verandas skipper Boissières reflected last night on being knocked down twice.

At the front of the fleet Michel Desjoyeaux has been doing his best to deal with the advances of Roland Jourdain who has now cut his lead by 100 miles since Monday night. Jourdain has remained consistently in better breeze, around two knots quicker remaining on the same course, while Desjoyeaux tacked again at around midnight last night.

Behind them Armel Le Cléac'h has seen many of his hard won miles evaporating in light winds, while Sam Davies has been battling with massive fronds of kelp which have regularly attacked her daggerboards on Roxy, despite this she continues to make steady progress, quickest of the top five boats this morning.

Marc Guillemot was about 20 miles east of Port Stanley this morning at decision time as to how, or perhaps if, he will stop or slow to carry out the repair to his mast track. He has lost fewer miles in the Pacific by being forced to sail with three reefs in, and the ascent of the South Atlantic would be painfully slow under that sailplan. Imagine how Dee Caffari feels considering the prospect that she may only be able to continue under four reefs. She will not know what her actual prospects are until the strong winds subside.

Steve White, while he has been going briskly recently on Toe in the Water, is facing up to what could be his biggest test yet 1600 miles from Cape Horn. From this afternoon he will have at least 12 hours of winds gusting to 60-70 knots with seas to 8-10 metres, with squally showers of rain and thunderstorms. After relishing the long surfs and steady strong winds 48 hours, White will now see the dark, vicious side of the Pacific.

Rich Wilson has gybed back to the north again on Great American III, choosing to do so once he had reached about 100 miles of the track of a known set of icebergs. Norbert Sedlacek is perhaps showing signs of frustration with his slow progress in light headwinds, making a long northerly tack to try and escape over the top of the high pressure system which has been barring any eastwards course.

January 13. Daily Video Report: Day 65 - Monday

InBrief: Third placed Armel Le Cléac'h's gains have stabilised as he moves in to lighter breeze again but the Brit Air skipper has trimmed 103 miles off the margin of Michel Desjoyeaux since 1000hrs yesterday morning. He has been awarded 11 hours of compensation for time lost during his help at the scene of Jean Le Cam's rescue. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) is 500 miles to Cape Horn this morning. Redress confirmed last night for Vincent Riou (PRB) at third place.

Sam Davies in fourth place has been making stately progress on Roxy and reported that she was buzzed by a playful Brit fighter jet as she passed the Falklands Islands. Her ascent of the South Atlantic now looks a sticky one as a high pressure zone, more than 750 miles across, is in front of her. Marc Guillemot, 325 miles in her wake, suffered the same fate as Davies, in the virtually the same spot, slowing to a crawl in the transition zone on the corner of the Atlantic and the Pacific.

January 12. Daily Video Report: Day 64 - Monday

In Brief: As Les Sablais skipper Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vita) eased slowly across the International Date Line at 180 degrees yesterday afternoon it marked the return to the western hemisphere of the final member of the Vendée Globe fleet. The lead of Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is now very close to 300 miles as Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) in second place, continues to diverge west towards the Brasilian coast. Fifth placed Marc Guillemot (Safran) is very close to Cape Horn.

Working upwind, on a direct, straight course in strong NE'ly breeze Michel Desjoyeaux watched Michel Desjoyeaux's Foncia slide under the '5000 miles to go mark' this morning knowing he now has a with a handy lead of very nearly 300 miles over his friend and fellow Port La Foret skipper Roland Jourdain Veolia Environnement. Jourdain is working to a much more westerly course, closing towards the Brasilian coast as the leading duo negotiate a small, but quite active low pressure system which is giving them some stiff headwinds.

Armel Le Cléach in third may now feel more assured that a podium place can be his. Slowed through the light winds of a high pressure system, the Brit Air skipper is emerging steadily from the gentler breezes and has picked up speed making 10 knots after a slow night where his speeds averaged just six knots and he lost nearly half the gains he had made over the previous 48 hours, but he has over 1100 miles on fourth placed Roxy. Samanthia Davies was due to be getting some well earned rest. As she noted during the night 'my sleeping bag is in my sights'. There has been no respite for the British soloist who her French rivals call the 'Pink Flamingo'. After a tough 48 hours on the edge prior to rounding Cape Horn yesterday morning, Davies was trapped in light winds in the transition between the Pacific and Atlantic, making less than 5 knots for several hours. She had to work progressively back up her sail-plan, shaking out her reefs and unrolling progressively bigger headsail to drag Roxy out the sticky zone, only to have to reverse the procedures - shortening sail again as she emerged into the brisker Atlantic winds. Davies is on course to pass east of the Falklands Islands.

Behind her Marc Guillemot Safran will round the rugged, rocky Cape this morning, probably around 0830hrs GMT, and is them expected to set a course to try and make repairs to his mainsail track at the Falklands. He has been quickest over the last 24hours, despite sailing with three reefs in his mainsail, and was regularly hitting over 20 knots as he closed on the Horn this morning.

The trio of Aviva, Akenas Veranda and Bahrain Team Pindar have seen Brian Thompson, GBR, making the best speeds and continuing his advance away from his compatriot Dee Caffari and her French companion Arnaud Boissieres. Akenas Verandas is at about 33 miles ahead of the yellow hulled British boat.

Steve White continues to keep his foot flat down on Toe in the Water, having some excellent spells through the night, making over 16 knots averages in the small hours, with 350 miles to the SE Pacific gate.

Norbert Sedlacek, AUT Nauticsport-Kapsch has been battening down and heading north as he prepares to be hit by an active, deep low pressure system which is predicted to give winds to 50 knots and big, short, steep seas. He reported last night that all was in good shape aboard.

Meantime British skipper Jonny Malbon nosed Artemis II into Auckland harbour, New Zealand at around 2330hrs GMT last night while Jean-Pierre Dick will join him this morning with the wounded Paprec-Virbac II, and was making the final 30 or so miles across the Hauraki Gulf this morning.

January 11. On board Roy with Samanthia Davies at Cape Horn!

Live Video Conference with Samanthia Davies after she rounded Cape Horn

British soloist Sam Davies in fourth place rounded Cape Horn 0920hrs GMT this morning, close to perfect timing for the live visio-conference at today's vendeeglobe.org daily broadcast. Davies should be able to cast off some of the pressures of the last 48 hours, making quite a difficult approach to the legendary seafarer's milestone. With winds up to 45 knots, big seas and some accurate navigation required, she was also due to pass within 25 miles of the capsized, abandoned VM Matériaux. Sailing downwind she reported this morning that she has spent long periods on deck because of the demands of the weather conditions, the need to make regular manoeuvres and the off-lying islands. She has positively thrived in the Southern Ocean, which she will bid 'adieu' to today, and has already expressed a desire - albeit 'medium term' - to return to these hostile waters, especially enjoying the long surfs of the Pacific Ocean.

In her wake, Marc Guillemot (Safran) is still achieving the best average speeds in spite of the handicap of having to sail with three reefs in the main.

Michel Desjoyeaux seems to have escaped from the clutches of the high-pressure area and if this proves to be the case, Roland Jourdain would have reason to be worried. For the skipper of Veolia Environnement, there is the possibility of heading northwards to find stronger winds, but this means that he will have to wait longer to take advantage of the easterly winds. Upwind sailing on a fragile boat cannot really rival the reaching conditions of the frontrunner. 'Bilou' tried a clever strategy, but when you're behind and under pressure, it takes more than a rational, well thought out plan. Desjoyueax is now over 200 miles ahead and making more than two knots faster than Jourdain this morning.

Armel Le Cléac'h has continued to make steady gains, still fighting upwind and has made 50 miles against the leader since yesterday morning, but stands to gain more as the high pressure which has slowed the two leaders, looks set to become less of an obstacle for the Brit Air skipper. He will see the breeze decrease today but will pass to the west of the high pressure system and so should be able to sail a more direct route than the leaders did.

Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) has been making steady progress, 10-12 knots overnight, despite having to make his repairs.

January 10. Daily Video Report: Day 62 - Saturday

After two or three days of relative calm for the whole of the fleet (leaders at 36° 14 S, 39° 33 W), all the competitors will be experiencing a change in the weather in the next 36 hours, with the exception of Norbert Sedlacek and Raphaël Dinelli. While the competitors furthest west will be reached by the high, meaning light and variable winds, all the others will be facing strengthening winds.

A long way south of Rich Wilson (46° 00 S, 146° 14 W), a huge low is forming and will move east-north-eastwards and deepen affecting all of the competitors still in the Pacific. Thus, from Sunday the wind will be strengthening to 40-45 knots with gusts reaching 60/65 knots again between the final ice gate and Cape Horn. Akena, Aviva and Pindar will be finishing their Pacific crossing in strong winds and heavy seas. Several systems are coming together in this region and while Roxy (56° 36 S, 73° 36 W), and Safran will be leaving the Pacific with strong winds (but before they reach their maximum strength) they will be affected by this pattern before the Falklands.

For Brit Air the NW'ly wind is freshening as the high moves north eastwards. When the high has let Foncia and Veolia through, the two frontrunners will have to deal with a thundery low moving in from South America. This low will be accompanied by 30-40 knot winds with gusts in the squalls reaching 50 knots from Sunday. Sylvain Mondon Météo-France

1500 HRS GMT. Rankings:

 1. Michel Desjoyeaux FRA  (Foncia)                      5465   miles to finish 
 2. Roland Jourdain   FRA  (Veolia Environnement)      +  191.2 miles    
 3. Armel Le Cléac'h  FRA  (Brit Air)                  +  718.3 miles        
 4. Sam Davies        GBR  (ROXY)                      + 1818.5 miles  
 5. Marc Guillemot    FRA  (Safran)                    + 2184.9 miles 
 
Selected International:
 6. Brian Thompson    GBR  (Bahrain Team Pindar)       + 2854.4 miles
 8. Dee Caffari       GBR  (AVIVA)                     + 3024.0 miles 
 9. Steve White       GBR  (Toe in the Water)          + 4176.1 miles   
10. Rich Wilson       USA  (Great American III)        + 4958.2 miles     
11. Norbert Sedlacek  AUT  (Nauticsport-Kapsch)        + 6238.9 miles

There has been no change to the lead of this race for 25 days, nearly 40% of its duration to the present has been dominated by Michel Desjoyeaux. Indeed it is the ice cool Foncia skipper who has been seemingly untouched by the dramas that have occurred, sticking resolutely in race mode ever since he re-started 40 hours after the start, two months ago yesterday. Desjoyeaux concurred with current predictions by Meteo France and Vendée Globe race direction that the leader could finish before the end of this month, even as early as the 28th.

Indeed contrary to just about every expectation expressed beforehand, even those of 'The Professor' himself - who predicted a tight race with perhaps three hours or less between the first and second boat - this Vendée Globe has returned the race to the realms of a human adventure first and a race second.

Even second placed Roland Jourdain, for 25 days a constant threat since he trailed Foncia passed the stricken, dismasted Mike Golding, sounded harassed and stressed today. As well as the practical issues of completing repairs to his keel box and mast bulkhead before an inopportune storm system arrives, he is dealing with mental anguish as his prospects of winning diminish with each mile Desjoyeaux gains.

Jourdain is now 191.2 miles behind Mich' Desj', although he has been slightly quicker than the leader. Armel Le Cléac'h was on station as well at the capsized VM Matériaux and it could have been the Brit Air skipper who plucked Le Cam from the sea. Sam Davies Roxy and Marc Guillemot Safran were on hand for Yann Eliès.

Brian Thompson, GBR, has been pulling Bahrain Team Pindar apart again to find enough materials to complete his third boatbuilding mission in the Southern Ocean. He has hardly had a settled spell of straight racing since the start, coaxing an untried, extreme boat round the world so the depths of his character have been tested much more than the fine detail of his skills in weather strategy and setting the ideal sailplan.

The ebullient Sam Davies should reach Cape Horn early tomorrow morning, ready to end her own first time solo odyssey in the Southern Ocean, with her Roxy, and head up the Atlantic for her final 30 or so days with the boat which won the 2004 race. She will not have an easy rounding of her third and final Cape on the course. Her race has been well found on complete confidence in a boat which has been round twice, just as the remarkable Rich Wilson has kept faith in his Great American III, which is on her fourth circumnavigation, outlasting his two nearest rivals Jonny Malbon and Derek Hatfield.

January 9. Daily Video Report: Day 61 - Friday

Speeds have dropped for the leaders Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) who is 142 miles ahead of Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) as they try to skirt the developing high pressure system but they maintain good speeds. Armel Le Cléac'h's stock is rising in third as he stands to make gains on Brit Air. Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) is 700 miles to Cape Horn.

January 8. Daily Video Report: Day 60 - Thursday

In Short: Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam arrived in Puerto Williams, the remote Chilean Naval base, this morning, towed there aboard the dismasted PRB, the latest to have their Vendée Globe dreams taken away from them. After rescuing his friend, the current Vendée Globe title holder wanted little more than the satisfaction of completing his race. Of the 30 who started November 9th there are now just 12 skippers still actively racing with leader Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) now closer to Les Sables d'Olonne and the finish line, than Raphael Dinelli (Fondacion Océan Vital) is to him.

Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam arrived in Puerto Williams, the remote Chilean Naval base, this morning, towed there aboard the dismasted PRB, the latest to have their Vendée Globe dreams taken away from them. After rescuing his friend, the current Vendée Globe title holder wanted little more than the satisfaction of completing his race.

Of the 30 who started November 9th there are now just 12 skippers still actively racing with leader Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) now closer to Les Sables d'Olonne and the finish line, than Raphael Dinelli (Fondacion Océan Vital) is to him.

At 0145hrs GMT this morning the Chilean Navy patrol vessel Alacalufe took PRB under tow after the fourth placed Open 60 dismasted last night only eight miles after the Cape Horn light. PRB is due to arrive in Port Williams, the 'southernmost town in the world' at around 0845GMT this morning.

At the front of the fleet Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) and leader Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) are now separated by over 250 miles west to east and Jourdain is now effectively further north, but still computed to be second by 105 miles.

Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) breaks her boom vang but can expect to be promoted to fourth when official retirement of PRB is received.

According to the Chilean Navy PRB was taken under tow at around 0145hrs early this morning and is making about 10 knots towards Port Williams, home of the 33 metres patrol vessel Alacalufe which attended to Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam last night after PRB's compromised rig gave up in 25 knots of breeze some 8 miles NW of the Cape Horn light.

The duo had been joking only hours earlier about making Vendée Globe history as the first ever duo to pass Cape Horn on the same boat, when they believe the temporary lashing which they had put in place to support the broken port outrigger gave way and the mast tumbled over the side. Riou has not been able to start his engine for some time, and due to their proximity to the islands, there was insufficient time to set a jury rig, although they have retained the boom. Making around 10 knots under tow, PRB is due to reach Port Williams at around 0845hrs GMT this morning.

Based around the distance to finish calculated using the theoretical route, Roland Jourdain seeems to be well placed to challenge Michel Desjoyeaux. 250 miles further west, the skipper of Veolia Environnement is already 20 miles further north than the current leader. The two are not tackling the small low-pressure systems off the coast of Argentina in the same way and with a lead of only a hundred miles the position of Michel Desjoyeaux does look tenable, racing in 20-25 knots of SW'ly winds. The fight is on and there will be plenty of opportunities for tactical plays with major upsets possible. Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) is experiencing much quieter weather and is heading due north at 12-15 knots after rounding the islands off the tip of Patagonia.

Sam Davies (Click here for January 7 - 38 second Samanathia Davies ROXY Video, surfing on the way to Cape Horn), has had to replace her boom vang overnight, but is making steady progress again now with Cape Horn 1000 miles ahead, she is taking a southerly route, only 100 miles north of a set of well tracked icebergs. Behind her Marc Guillemot (Safran) has a deficit of about 390 miles but has indicated again that he is minded to stop again to repair his mast track. In effect he has a net 50 hours of time compensation over Sam to be subtracted and may spend some of that trying to be repair his mainsail luff track for the climb up the Atlantic.

For once the Pacific is peaceful too. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) is making a steady 9-10 knots and was about 130 miles from the SE Pacific gate, the final one, at 0400hrs this morning.

Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) is back up to speed this morning in better breeze (Click here for January 8 Video of her sail repairing), but has lost out to Arnaud Boissières (Akenas Veranda) overnight who is now 28 miles ahead.

Steve White (Toe in the Water) struggles to escape the clutches of the a high and this morning was only advancing at 1.5 knots but had reported again that he will be taking opportunities presented to work on the re-calibration of his auto-pilots.

At the trailing edge of the fleet, Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) is also stuck in light airs off Stewart Island as is Norbert Sedlack (Nauticsport-Kapsch), who can look forward to a quiet day, giving him time to give his boat a thorough inspection, but will scarcely reflect on the fact that leader Michel Desjoyeaux is now this morning closer to the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne than they are to him.

Video Report - from Julian Hocken (Deputy Race Director)

January 7. At 1920 GMT, only a matter of an hour and 20 minutes since passing Cape Horn (and some 50 miles from the rendezvous with Isabelle Autissier at the entrance to the Beagle Channel), Vincent Riou called his team to report that PRB has been dismasted. When the call was made PRB was in a position approximately 55° S and 65° 59 W, about 7.8 miles to the North West of the Cape Horn light. Both skippers Riou and Le Cam are safe and well.

He called back to his team about an hour later, saying that he did not want to issue a Mayday signal, but was trying to locate a suitable vessel to tow them, perhaps through the contacts of Isabelle Autissier. He had been on the phone to Isabelle discussing their planned rendezvous tomorrow not long before the mast collapsed. They believe that the temporary lashing which they had made to the chainplate gave way.

They had around 25 knots of NW'ly wind when the rig came down but have a limited chance of setting a jury rig while they are in the islands. Riou and Le Cam acted quickly to cut away the rigging and free the broken mast. Since they cut the mast free PRB is reported to be drifting at 1.5 knots to a course of about 25 degrees, effectively away from the islands.

A PAN PAN call was made, a simple request to any available assistance, as opposed to the obligations of a Mayday. Vendée Globe Race Direction have been in contact with the Chilean authorities. The 32.7 m general purpose vessel Alacalufe of the Chilean Navy has been dispatched from Port Williams - 55 miles away. Making around 20 knots it is due to reach PRB around 0200hrs GMT Thursday.

Daily Video Report: Day 59 - Wednesday

Wednesday - 38 second Video from Smanathia Davies ROXY on the way to Cape Horn

In Short: Jean Le Cam spoke of his Cape Horn ordeal this morning alongside Vincent Riou who plucked him from the waters in a remarkable feat of seamanship. Riou's orange hulled IMOCA Open 60 PRB, with her compromised rig, is making 10 knots this evening towards the entry to the Beagle Channel where a rendezvous with Isabelle Autissier (a former PRB skipper) is planned during which Le Cam should be taken off.

Meantime at the front of the fleet, Michel Desjoyeaux is significantly quicker than his nearest rival, second placed Roland Jourdain.

His face crumpled from much needed sleep, Jean Le Cam spoke this morning by video-conference about his accident and being pulled from the waters off Cape Horn by his friend and Vendée Globe rival Vincent Riou. The two skippers, supported by Armel Le Cléac'h, recounted the incident which paralysed the Vendée Globe and wider community while the skipper was inside the upturned VM Matériaux for more than 10 hours.

Le Cam was almost his back to his typical nonplussed self as he explained that he knew that had 'only one bullet in the chamber' - only one chance when he finally expelled himself out of the upturned hull. He explained that he had been on the phone to none other than Riou immediately before he hit something, what he said he believed to be possibly a container which caused him to lose the bulb off his keel and capsize. Le Cam said his reflex actions were to recover warm clothes, his survival suit but was trapped near the front of his boat, the only dry area with an airspace, while the stern sections of the boat were under water, presenting a very difficult and potentially dangerous escape route. Le Cam said he worried about his reserves of air, particularly on the principle he would not leave the boat unless he knew there was help there.

Riou, who reached the spot at 14h21 GMT on Tuesday had one major worry: he feared that Le Cam may not have had time to put on his survival suit and may have been already suffering from hypothermia, with the sea temperature down to 5 degrees. That is why they both seized the opportunity, which arose at around 1800hrs GMT.

It was Le Cam who took the initiative, as soon as he realized that his friend was close at hand. After pushing out boxes that were in his way in the flooded stern compartment, then pushing out the emergency hatch, he waited for the stern of the boat to rise up on a wave, before squeezing his way out and clinging on to one of the rudders. "You know then that you have only one bullet in the chamber." he said with hindsight. The rest of the story has already been told: it was on his fourth attempt (which was successful) that part of the outrigger on PRB broke threatening the rig. But the two skippers answered their reflexes and gybed immediately to take the strain off the rig. "The gybe of our lives." Recounted Le Cam.

Transcript to-day 0935 hrs GMT: Jean Le Cam - First of all, I always had in my head do not leave the boat, then I didn't know how long I could live inside. I heard Vincent's voice in the morning, and thought am I dreaming or not? Then I heard it again so I was sure he was there, and that's important, because if you get out and there's no one, you're in a really bad shape because possibly you can't get back in, I mean there's only one shot at this. So I went in the back, it was immersed in water, I went back in my igloo in the front of the boat, and at one point, I thought let's go back, it's not because there's water that I can't give it a try, I had capsized once and had held on the outside of the boat for 5 hours, you need to hold on to something, it's like when you go buy bread you can't forget your money. So I opened the hatch and things kept coming out of the boat, Vincent saw things come out of the hatch, and then I put my feet first, I got out in one movement with the wave, I held on, lifted my head up, and saw Vincent, which was a great moment.

Jean Le Cam: I was in the water, I get on the boat, one arm around the safran, Vincent came around a few times, I grabbed onto his boat and he heaved me up, then the outrigger hit the keel, and the mast of PRB was inclined 30 degrees, we consolidated the mast, and that was it.

Vincent Riou: I heard screams, I could hear his fear in his screams, I was afraid of the cold and hypothermia for him, the boat was slowly sinking, I didn't know how he was inside, I was imagining that he could try and get out at some point, so we decided to take rounds for the boat because I was afraid that he'd try to get out and there would be no one waiting there for him. It's not easy for someone to get out like that, so we stayed close to the boat the whole time we waited, when I took my turn and I saw things coming out, I thought he's doing something, I saw containers, then the hatch came out, and I knew immediately the boat was open and so I stayed close so as soon as Jean would come out I'd be there.

Vincent Riou: And then I came close a first time, I came close a second time and I missed him, and at the fourth try I managed to send him the bout, the more I got closer the more I took risks, it could only take one bigger wave for Jean to be sent off, you can't resist the pressure of the water, the fourth time I got really close, the hulls didn't touch but the keel hit the outrigger, but at the time I really didn't care, first I get jean then I'll take care of my outrigger, my priority was set on getting jean no matter what.

Vincent: We are heading towards Cape Horn, then close to the canal beagle and we'll try to moor tonight, I'm waiting from the jury to see how the race can go on for me, or how it can end, I'm in discussions with the jury to see what the possibilities are.

Vincent Riou: Apparently, Jean will get off at Ushuaia, we'll rendez-vous tonight with Isabelle Autissier who's on site with her boat, so that's our contact there , and that's through her that he'll get off

Jean Le Cam: I was on the phone with Vincent, we were talking, and I felt something, a shock on the boat, something weird, and I felt something was really wrong, and the boat lied down, and then it capsized. I think it was a container or something in the water, my first reflex was to look behind and there was nothing, it must have been a container. Here we see lots of boats, there's a lot of maritime traffic, and usually that means that some things are left behind.

Jean Le Cam: The boat lied down, it capsized quite quickly, since there was no keel left, the first thing I did was to jump on my clothes and my TPS, I immediately grabbed and put on my survival suit, and organized the rest to resist the cold, I grabbed my blanket which was wet and dried it off.

Images of the rescue

January 6. Latest 1:59 p.m. CST: Le Cam safe and sound on board PRB!

Jean Le Cam has been rescued safe and sound aboard PRB, but Vincent Riou's yacht suffers damage in the process. This evening a full-scale rescue operation was in place to retrieve Jean Le Cam from the upturned hull of VM Matériaux - a Chilean Navy tug boat equipped with divers was on its way, a helicopter had been deployed and the tanker Sonangol Kassanje was standing by - but in the end it was Vincent Riou who successfully recovered fellow skipper and friend Le Cam.

At 1810 (GMT) the Race Directors spoke to Vincent Riou, who reported that Jean Le Cam had climbed out of VM Mat’àö¬©riaux wearing his survival suit. Vincent Riou circled repeatedly to retrieve the skipper from the water, and on the fourth attempt he successfully rescued Le Cam on board PRB.

However, on his final approach alongside the inverted VM Matériaux, the end of PRB's port outrigger was damaged against the upturned keel fin. Le Cam was able to scramble aboard soon after and appears to be unhurt, as Riou reported that both skippers worked on deck to stabilize PRB's mast. They are now sailing slowly, on starboard tack, on a heading of 110 with three reefs in the main and no headsail.

Armel Le Cléac'h on Brit Air, who was also standing by to assist in the rescue, is now following PRB as they investigate repairs the rig. "It's an incredible story that has a happy end," said Alain Gautier, the Vendée Globe safety consultant.

The rescue operation by the Chilean Navy has been called off - the helicopter has turned around, as has the Chilean tug, which was set to reach VM Matériaux on Wednesday morning. The oil tanker which has been standing alongside since this morning can also now move off.

Earlier News: Huge relief all round as Vincent Riou made contact with missing skipper Jean Le Cam this afternoon. At 1421 GMT (10:21 A.M. CST) Vincent Riou on PRB arrived at the scene of VM Matériaux's capsize. Riou reported that he found the yacht floating upside down, missing its keel bulb, but a small 'flag' was visible at one of the through-hull fittings on the bow of the upturned yacht. Riou shouted for Le Cam and heard a response from the French skipper inside the capsized boat. The stern of VM Matériaux, where there is an emergency escape hatch, is underwater.

Daily Video Report: Day 58 - Tuesday

Air Photo's Tuesday

In Short: Vincent Riou (PRB) makes contact with Jean Le Cam inside the capsized VM Matériaux
Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) is also on the scene, as is the oil tanker Sonangol Kassanje
A Chilean naval tug has been deployed to assist in the rescue effort, and should arrive early tomorrow morning
Desjoyeaux and Jourdain seem set to extend lead up the Atlantic

After a tense morning of waiting, there was huge relief for Vendée Globe organizers and competitors this afternoon with the news that Vincent Riou (PRB) had arrived at the scene of VM Matériaux's capsize at 1421 (GMT) and made contact with Jean Le Cam inside the upturned hull. The pink IMOCA 60 is floating upside down around 200 miles west of Cape Horn [56° 17' S, 73° 46 W], with the bulb of her keel detached, in a stern-down position - possibly due to the ballast tanks being full at the time of the capsize. Riou was able to spot a 'flag' poking out of one of the through-hull fittings of the yacht and shouted for Le Cam, who responded. Both EPIRBS have also been activated on the yacht.

Riou was joined on the scene around an hour later by fellow skipper Armel Le Cléac'h in Brit Air. The two are now standing by, as is an oil tanker, the Sonangol Kassanje, who was first on the scene. The tanker was unable to deploy a rescue boat due to a rough sea with 4-5m waves, but may be able to provide a lee.

A Chilean naval tug has now left Puerto Williams to assist the rescue effort, and is equipped with a RIB and divers onboard. They are expected to arrive at the scene around 0500 (GMT) tomorrow.

Of the racing skippers, Michel Desjoyeaux is now skirting the outlying edges at the north-west of the Falklands Islands. Foncia is being chased hard on the route north by Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnment), who is currently 135 miles behind, having regained some of the distance he lost to Mich Desj earlier today. A low pressure system currently between Argentina and the Falklands looks set to bring the leading duo favourable south-westerlies of 20-25 knots for the next couple of days as it tracks north-west.

Samantha Davies (GBR) is currently the fastest skipper on the course, clocking averages above 16 knots as she sails on the edge of a cold front that is bringing 25-30 knot north-north-westerlies. Having passed through the East Pacific Gate, fifth-placed Roxy is now on a fast lane south-east direct to Cape Horn, although it's worth bearing in mind that the mileages around the gates can be a little misleading.

By contrast Steve White (Toe in the Water, GBR, 10th) has been experiencing the effects of a high pressure system for the past day. Aviva (Dee Caffari, GBR, 8th), Akena Vérandas (Arnaud Boissieres, 9th) and Bahrain Team Pindar (Brian Thompson, GBR, 10th) are currently between two fronts which are bringing them changeable conditions - in this afternoon's update the more southerly Boissieres seemed to be making the best of it and Caffari is now converging onto his line. Nobert Sedlacek (Nauticsport Kapsch, AUT, 12th) reported today that he was enjoying pleasant sailing conditions after 30 hours of heavy winds and waves, although another low pressure system looks set to move over Sedlacek and back marker Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) tonight, bringing around 45 knots. Retired sipper Sébastien Josse is now safely moored up in Auckland with BT. Josse arrived at New Zealand's America's Cup venue Viaduct Basin shortly before midnight last night.

Video: Race Director's briefing - Tuesday A.M.

January 5. Daily Video Report: Day 57 - Monday

In short: Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) rounds Cape Horn at 0310h (GMT)
Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) currently just 80 miles from tip of South America
International Jury announces redress for Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR) and Marc Guillemot (Safran)

At 0310 this morning (GMT), leader Michel Desjoyeaux on Foncia rounded Cape Horn after 56 days, 15 hours and 08 minutes of racing - a little faster than the time taken in 2004 to reach the Horn (56d 17h 13'), even though this year's route has been extended by some 1200 miles. Foncia is the first boat to exit the Pacific and enter the Atlantic Ocean - and begin the final climb north to the finish line.

Mich Desj passed just a couple of miles off the coast of the fearsome landmark, reporting squalls of 35-40 knots, gusting 45, at around midnight in local, Chilean time - his path flagged by the famous lighthouses on the rocks. However, on rounding the tip of South America Foncia is experiencing flatter seas. After a strong NW'ly wind this weekend, the leaders are being greeted by a 20-25 knot westerly, likely to ease further as a high pressure zone develops off the tip of Patagonia. Desjoyeaux is now 120 miles ahead of second placed Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment). Jourdain is currently about 80 miles away from the Cape, and expects to round the Horn around eight hours behind Foncia.

Behind these two leaders there has been little change - the closely matched pair of Vincent Riou (PRB) and Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) are now just 14 miles apart on this morning's rankings, with a 20-mile lateral separation.

Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR) continues to hold a 300-mile advantage over Marc Guillemot on Safran, although Safran has recently picked up high speeds to become the fastest boat overnight - averaging over 16 knots since last night's position update.

This duo have also been notified of the redress they will receive for going to the aid of Yann Eliés. The International Jury has awarded 82 hours to Marc Guillemot as redress, while Sam Davies receives 32 hours. With a gap to the next boat, Brit Air, of 1,300 miles for Sam and more than 1,700 miles for Marc this is unlikely to change the hierarchy. However, if Guillemot decides to stop to make repairs to his main he will have to keep an eye on Sam, as he is currently 300 miles behind her, which represents about half of the redress time he now has in the bank.

Further back, 11th-placed Steve White (Toe in the Water, GBR) has been making good progress at around 15 knots to gain a little ground on the duo of Arnaud Boissieries (Akena Vérandas) and Dee Caffari (Aviva, GBR) in ninth and tenth.

Rich Wilson (Great American III, USA) is set to become the next boat to cross the International Date Line, and is currently around 80 miles away from the Greenwich Meridian. Sébastien Josse on the retired BT is also making good progress to Auckland, currently around 100 miles away he is expected to arrive in New Zealand later today.

January 4. Daily Video Report: Day 56 - Sunday

In short: Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) [55° 52 S, 72° 36 W] extends his lead - now on a direct line to Cape Horn
Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR) [42° 57 S, 119° 15 S] holds a relentless pace of 16-17 knots, laying a personal demon to rest in sixth place
Rich Wilson (Great American III) moves up into 12th as Jonny Malbon (Artemis) suffering mainsail de-lamination retires

Cape Horn is more than just a physical obstacle on the Vendée Globe course, it's a psychological one too. The great 'left-hand turn' represents the end of a chapter in the race, marking the exit point of the Southern Oceans.

150W  140W  130W  120W  110W   100W   90W   80W

A small cold front will mean the westerly wind will veer NW'ly at 30-35 knots for the duo to the south of New Zealand, before another cold front moves in on Monday evening with a strong NW'ly wind

The middle of the fleet find themselves in a thundery low, with Safran and Roxy [42° 57 S, 119° 15 S] to the front in a NW'ly to N'ly flow, while Artemis, Aviva and Akena at the rear are still experiencing cold SW'ly winds!

The NW'ly wind is easing off at Cape Horn and backing westerly 20-25 knots this evening. Foncia is due to round the Horn this evening. Another low is rapidly moving towards Cape Horn and is likely to affect Brit Air and PRB on Tuesday. Richard SILVANI Météo France

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) can be expected to round the tip of South America at some point over the next day - in the lead, just as he did in 2001; for him there are just hours rather than days left in the south. Second-placed Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) has shed a few of the miles he gained yesterday by holding onto a more easterly course while Mich Desj has tracked south for a more direct line to the Cape, currently sailing in around 35-plus knots for a fast passage around. Bilou is currently 150 miles to the north and will have to gybe down the western coast of Chile.

These two have pulled a little further away from third-placed Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux), who has lost 50 miles to the leaders in the past 24 hours, while Vincent Riou (PRB) and Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) remain locked in partnership just 20 miles apart.

As they entered the Pacific, only 450 miles separated the first six boats. Now there are only three within that distance. With around 7,000 miles let to sail, the 700 miles separating Riou and Le Cléac'h from Desjoyeaux, represent 10% of the course - is it still possible for them to catch the leader thanks to the weather, or sheer boatspeed?

Around 2,000 miles behind the leader, sixth placed Sam Davies has kept her pace up, consistently averaging 16-17 knots on Roxy (GBR). Her determination is not just fuelled by a desire to put miles between Roxy and Safran, but to pass another psychological obstacle in the Southern Oceans. Sam wrote: "Yesterday I passed a special mark in my personal voyage around the globe. Eleven years ago, Royal and SunAlliance was dismasted at 52S 129W during our Trophee Jules Verne record attempt."

"Ever since the start of this Vendée Globe, there has been just one little fear that I have not talked about to anyone because it is stupid - and that is to get beyond the longitude of our dismasting, safe and well.

"So, now it is done - Roxy has passed over 129W and I have toasted our mast, and given Neptune some chocolate. I feel like a little weight has lifted off me and I can now really aim for Cape Horn!"

Rich Wilson (Great American III, USA) has moved up into 12th place. Jonny Malbon (Artemis, GBR) has this morning announced his decision to retire from the Vendée Globe due to the de-lamination of his mainsail. His Artemis's mainsail began delaminating three weeks ago, apparently due to a problem with the adhesion between the scrim and fibres. Over the past 24 hours the sail has broken down further, with a one metre-long vertical tear developing as the final taffeta layer also began to disintegrate. The damage is so severe that Malbon cannot repair it onboard, as he explained during yesterday's radio broadcast: "It's getting worse and worse and worse. I simply cannot repair that sort of damage, I've never seen anything like it before, I don't have enough materials or glue or I haven't got enough hands.'

January 3. Daily Video Report: Day 55 - Saturday

In short: Michel Desjoyeaux Foncia FRA [54° 36 S, 83° 57 W] expands his lead again overnight
Vincent Riou PRB FRA [48° 58, 99° 42 W] leap-frogs Armel Le Cléac'h to fourth place
Sam Davies Roxy GBR [44° 02, 128° 00 W] keeps up the pace to be fastest overnight
Derek Hatfield Algimouss Spirit of Canada CAN reaches Tasmania

20-25 knot westerly winds for the rear of the fleet before another low moves in with a NW'ly wind strengthening with rain and cross seas. The duo to the south of New Zealand sees its 15-25 knot westerly flow disturbed by a small cold front and a temporary shift to the NW. Rain is replacing the snow and sleet of the past few days.

A cold front and a NW'ly wind for Steve White [48° 25 S, 166° 54 W] will be backing westerly this evening, as he heads towards the NE to reach the next Ice Gate. Roxy [44° 02, 128° 00 W] and Safran [43° 40, 132° 23 W]are in a moderate NW'ly flow, Aviva, Pindar and Akena in a moderate to fairly strong SSW'ly from the same low, which is deepening and moving eastwards, so little change for this group in the middle in the next few hours.

At the front, the five frontrunners are spread out in various conditions, Foncia and Veolia still with strong NW'ly winds taking them along to Cape Horn, where it is due to back westerly. It is progressively a 30-35 knot westerly that develop behind this duo.Richard SILVANI Météo France.

As the Southern Oceans deliver their final challenges to the leaders, Michel Desjoyeaux on Foncia has again expanded the rubber band that connects him to the rest of the fleet and pulled slightly further ahead overnight to lead by nearly 75 miles. Behind him Bilou (Veolia Environment) and Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) have been making good speeds, but with 270 miles still separating the duo.

The closer contest is currently between fourth and fifth, with Vincent Riou (PRB) leapfrogging Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) in the rankings overnight to take fourth, just under 20 miles between the two. Behind them in sixth Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR) is also sailing pedal to the metal, after her frustration yesterday when she was stuck in some relative calms (everything is relative in the Roaring Forties). Roxy has clocked up the fastest boat speed in this morning's position report, at 18 knots as she attempts to shake off Safran (Marc Guillemot) - more of a personal target than a long-term ambition, as Marc will be benefiting from additional redress time for going to the aid of Yann Elies.

So, what is Mich Desj's secret? Before the start the rumour-mill was humming with speculation on how the skipper of Foncia had been extremely attentive to the adjustment of his autopilots during the preparation phase of the race. But he has also suggested that Foncia carries a sail that is particularly well suited to the Southern Oceans: a staysail specially designed for heavy weather sailing, which he should be putting away once he has rounded Cape Horn. It is believed that this creation is the 'perfect sail', which can be used when the wind reaches 30 knots, right up to when it goes beyond 50, with no need to furl it.

Whether this 'perfect sail' exists, or is a little more gamesmanship in the tactical contest at the front of this Vendée Globe, may well have to wait until the fleet return to Les Sables. For other boats in the fleet - particularly Dee Caffari on Aviva (GBR, 9th) and Jonny Malbon on Artemis (GBR, 12th) having the perfect sail is the least of their worries. Both are currently suffering delamination to their mainsails in the heavy southern ocean conditions.

January 2. Daily Video Report: Day 54 - Friday

Still some strong winds at the front with 35-45 knot NW'ly winds gusting to 65 knots.

As the South Pacific low deepens, the wind strengthens and there are gales before the Horn as is often the case. These winds will lead to 7 to 9 metre high waves, so the sailors will be pleased to leave that all behind them.

A cold front, which is less active for the middle of the fleet, which is sailing in a NW'ly flow, backing SW'ly at 25-35 knots.

The SW'ly winds accompanying Artemis and Great American III over the past few days with cold conditions and heavy showers, will slowly veer NW'ly as another cold front moves in.

At the rear of the pack, it's almost calm with 15-25 knot westerlies, meaning it is difficult to stay on the direct route, but the conditions are not the most uncomfortable. Richard SILVANI Météo France

In short: Michel Desjoyeaux Foncia [51° 12 S, 92° 46 W] at the head of the Vendée Globe fleet for 17 days leads the fleet towards Cape Horn. Running downwind into the Fifties latitudes he had slowed in the hour to 0330h GMT but has been back to speed since. Desjoyeaux leads by just under 70 miles from Roland Jourdain Veolia Environnment. Sam Davies, GBR Roxy [44° 36 S, 137° 31 W] lies sixth but encounters ridge of high pressure during last night and spends some hours almost becalmed . . .

January 1, 2009. Daily Video Report: Day 53 - Thursday

Video: From Smanathia Davies - Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, as Roxy surfs in 22 - 30 knots of wind!

Video: From Rich Wilson of the sea & birds around Great American

IN SHORT: After Jean-Pierre Dick unfortunately lost his rudder in a collision yesterday afternoon, progress since has been steady through the Vendée Globe fleet in largely favourable conditions for the 15 remaining skippers. From Raphael Dinelli and Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, in the Indian Ocean 5500 miles behind the leaders and traversing the south of Australia, to Michel Desjoyeaux, leading by 67.7 miles on the downwind straight to Cape Horn, 2009 arrived relatively peacefully.

 160 E   180    160 W  140 W  120 W  100 W  80 W

In the middle of the fleet, it is on the southern edge of a ridge of high pressure that the competitors are sailing in moderate SW to NW winds. Steve White [50° 47 S, 177° 11 E] just out of the strong NE'ly flow, is temporarily in a westerly flow, which will soon veer northerly and strengthen, making it difficult to move northwards in such conditions.

Still cold and unstable SW'ly winds for Jonny Malbon [51° 39 S, 156° 23 E] and Rich Wilson [51° 20 S, 153° 40 E], with sleet and snow forecast. The 25-30 knot NW'ly winds for the tailenders will back westerly, making it necessary for them to tack as they cannot sail on the direct route. Richard Silvani Météo France

Michel Desjoyeaux starts 2009 in the same manner and style that he spent the final 15 days of 2008, in control of the Vendée Globe fleet and maintaining sensible strategies on board Foncia as he heads for Cape Horn. Desjoyeaux's lead this morning is 67.7 miles over his longtime rival and friend Roland Jourdain on Veolia Environnement. Running downwind in around 25 knots of NW'ly wind the pair have been evenly matched overnight, Jourdain showing a small speed advantage, maintaining his course slightly to the south of Foncia's track. Matching up together over thousands of miles since they took the advantage on the 16th December there is little to choose between the 2004 Lombard design and Desjoyeaux's 2007 Farr boat. If anything Jourdain loses when the breezes slacken off and consistently gains when the winds are stronger, more likely prepared - or required - to push harder. But in his mind he knows that the real challenge will be going back up the Atlantic, and so he needs to stay as tight as he can to the 2000-2001 Vendée Globe winner.

Jean-Pierre Dick acknowledged almost immediately yesterday evening that his Vendée Globe ambitions are shattered. He has made steady progress through the night, and while he has not officially retired, there is no chance of him completing the race with only one, already damaged rudder. This leaves 15 skippers of the original 30 who started in Les Sables d'Olonne still actively racing, confirming this editions to have the highest attrition since the 1996-7 edition, when only 37.5%, or six of the 16 starters, made it to the finish. The last two races, 2000-2001 and 2004-2005, saw over about 65% of the fleet reach the line in Les Sables d'Olonne.

Those who had been dealing with recent problems appear to have them under control at least this morning. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) 12th was threatening to be bringing in the New Year (theoretically the first to reach 2009 as he had not yet reached the antemeridian date line) under the chart table fighting with his malfunctioning autopilots. His strategy - slowing the boat for a several hours yesterday - seems to have been successful and he has been making steady, if uncomfortable progress, upwind, skirting a high pressure system which, unluckily for him, is moving with him. So too, Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar), ninth, has managed to average 14.5 knots overnight while trying to get to the bottom of a wiring problem. Jonny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis II) good progress last night, in unsettled seas in 25-28 knots.

Notwithstanding mileage anomalies on the rankings (eg Jourdain making 516 miles this morning!) Jean Le Cam has been quickest between the overnight polls, regularly observed to be making more than 20 knots. In third place, Le Cam is 402 miles behind the leader, while about 40 miles now separates Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) in fourth from Vincent Riou (PRB) but they are now over 670 miles behind Foncia.

December 31. Daily Video Report: Day 52 - Wednesday

At around 1300hrs GMT today, Vendee Globe skipper Jean-Pierre Dick (in 6th position), suffered a collision with a solid object which is reported to have removed the port rudder and most of its assembly from the stern of Paprec-Virbac 2. He was sailing at around 15 knots of boat speed, under mainsail and gennaker when incident happened during the hours of darkness.

The skipper reported to his shore team that he has no idea what the object was. He immediately slowed the boat, reduced sail to two reefs and a staysail and turned on to the opposite gybe so that he could steer with his starboard rudder.

His position was approximately 47 deg 49.53 S, 143 deg 08.10 W. That places him about 1700 miles south of the French Polynesian Islands, 2700 miles WNW of Cape Horn, and about 1800 miles from New Zealand.

Jean-Pierre is unharmed, there is no other damage reported to the boat and he is making a compass course of about 350 degrees towards the South Pacific high pressure system which will initially provide calmer winds and seas while he and his team assess the options.

Video: Aviva Shore Crew Fly over Dee Caffari and Aviva!

Video 1 min, 43 sec: Surfing with Arnaud Boissiéres on Akena Verandas

General synopsis by December 31, 2008 at 00h GMT: Low 994 hPa 44S 132E moving east-north-east, expected 986 hpa 43S 147E by 1/01 à 00 GMT
Low 965 hpa 61S 151E with litle move
Low 976 hpa expected 50S 15E moving slowly south and deepening à 969 hpa
extended a trough northeast
Low 970 hpa 60S 128W moving east expected 970 hpa 60S 118W by 1/01/00 GMT extended a trough north
New low expected by 1/01 à 1001 hpa 52S 145W, moving quickly east.
High 1019 hpa 37S 109E moving east south east, expected 1023 hpa 41S 121E by 1/01 à 00 GMT
High 1023 hpa 37S 157w moving slowly east extended a ridge southwest
High 1034 hpa 44S 88w with litle move extended a ridge south

The final day of 2008 and the leading duo will pass the last of the Southern Ocean security gates today (50.25° S, 100.25° W). Michel Desjoueyaux consistent leader for 15 days is expecting to round Cape Horn between the 4th and 5th January 2009. Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) is top international skipper, 7th. Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) arrived in Fremantle, Australia last night three weeks after being dismasted.

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) are again back on the concertina effect. Fifty miles separated them yesterday and 109 today, and the tune has been playing for several days. In the 200-2001 edition, they were in a similar situation, except that Roland Jourdain was compromised as his mast track was broken. Jourdain crossed a small ridge early yesterday evening and was slowed but was soon back up to speed, making 22knots at one point last night in pursuit of Desjoyeaux, who has less than 80 miles to go to the last of the gates in the Big South.

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) has taken fourth place from Vincent Riou (PRB), but both have now found better conditions allowing them to stop the distance to the leaders increasing, as it is now stabilised around 560 miles. The five frontrunners are sailing practically twice as fast as the five at the rear. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water), in 12th place is facing headwinds to the south of New Zealand and is having to tack upwind to pass Campbell Island.

Among the Vendée Globe fleet's enduring duels, while Le Cléac'h again has the upper hand over his dance partner Vincent Riou this morning, so too Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) is back in front of Arnaud Boissières (Akena Verendas), but in terms of DTF there is still only one mile between them. Steve White has wet, upwind conditions aboard his mobile workshop Toe in the Water, well into the process of stabilizing his gooseneck. Jonny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis II) is regularly making better speeds and is due to pass into the Pacific imminently, while Norbert Sedlacek, AUT (Nauticsport-Kapsch) and Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) passed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin yesterday evening.